Best of Santa Barbara 2015

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Santa Barbara M A G A Z I N E

SantaB­­­­­ arbara THE BEST OF 2015

MAGAZINE

BEST OF 2015 BEST OF 2015

$5.99 DISPLAY UNTIL 4/7/2015

The Costner family sets sail on Calafia.

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RISKIN ASSOCIATES THE POWER OF TEAMWORK “Working as a team is what sets us apart – it allows us to provide our clients with the highest level of service, with attention to every detail and anticipation of every need.” Riskin Associates partners Rebecca Riskin, Sarah Kelly and Dina Landi attribute the power of their teamwork to their consistent ranking as Santa Barbara’s #1 real estate team for the past decade. In 2014, this unique team approach allowed Riskin Associates to guide buyers and sellers through 36 transactions totaling over $200 million in sales. The team includes licensed realtors Jasmine Tennis and Robert Riskin who, along with marketing director Sara Thandi, support the partners in providing clients with unparalleled real estate representation. “Our clients’ success is our success.”

Riskin Associates’ world-class offerings include Brookside, an enchanting East Coast style country estate that marries elegant tradition with exquisite modern luxury. The approx. 2.5 acre compound offers a gracious main residence, an immensely charming two-bedroom guest house, a detached office/gym and tasteful outdoor entertaining spaces surrounded by magical woodlands. Exquisite craftsmanship combines with the finest amenities in Brookside – one of Montecito’s most distinctive properties.

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WELCOME TO THE ISSUE CONTENTS It has so many unique qualities, so many wonderful places within its environs, so many great people who live here and make this place even more special with what they bring to our city. So when it comes to boiling its essence down to the “best of,” it’s darn near impossible. Instead, when creating this special issue, our editors comb through the long-standing favorites, the newbies on the scene, and ask our own stylish citizens to recommend their must haves. Just look at one of our more famous residents and this issue’s cover subject, Kevin Costner. He could pick anywhere in the world to raise his family and he chooses here (“Happy Kids, Happy Wife, Happy Life,” page 38). Arguably, a better spot could not be found. Enjoy this 2015 edition of the Best of Santa Barbara with all of its discoveries…old and new…tried and true!

P H OTO G R A P H : C O R A L VO N Z U M WA LT

SANTA BARBARA AS A TOWN IS HARD TO DEFINE.

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32

Behind the Scenes

34 Contributors

38

Living

47

Style

65

Home

77

Garden

87

Entertainment

97

Food + Wine

111 Health

+ Beauty

119 Sports 129

Kids

137

Art

143

Music

151 Getaways JENNI F ER HALE, EDI TORI AL DI RECTOR

158 Wine 176

+ Dine

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P R E S I D E N T/ P U B L I S H E R E D I TO R I A L D I R E C TO R

Jennifer Hale

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MAGAZINE

E X E C U T I V E E D I TO R

Gina Tolleson A R T D I R E C TO R

Alisa Bales Baur M A N A G I N G E D I TO R

Gina Z. Terlinden E D I TO R I A L A S S I S TA N T

Charlotte Bryant C O N T R I B U T I N G E D I TO R S

Angelia De Meistre-Hammer Keith Hamm Jennifer Blaise Kramer Christine Lennon Viju Mathew L.D. Porter Joan Tapper CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Rob DaFoe Amelia Fleetwood Dawn Moore Degen Pener Gabe Saglie Katherine Stewart C O N T R I B U T I N G P H OTO G R A P H E R S

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BEHIND THE SCENES

ON OUR COVER Executive editor Gina Tolleson got her sea legs with our second mate George Nicks at the harbor; a sunset bonfire was the perfect ending to a day spent on the water.

STARBOARD Photographer Dewey Nicks, Kevin Costner, with wife Christine, and three little ones —Cayden, Hayes, and Grace—set sail with us for “Happy Kids, Happy Wife, Happy Life” (page 38) on Calafia, a 42-foot stunner from the Santa Barbara Sailing Center.

Pretending it’s spring in winter is the nature of the biz when it comes to magazine deadlines. The Costners with crew—including stylist Mikela Swanson, hair and makeup artist Stephanie Daniel, assistants, and captain Dan—braved the breeze to get the shot.

WINDWARD

ON DECK Kevin

looked every bit the dapper sailor in clothing by Apolis and Ralph Lauren, Christine in Rebecca Taylor and Alexander Wang, while Grace kept warm in her Missoni blanket. –G.T.

C’EST SMILE BLOOM ROOM

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We could spend hours at Danielle Hahn’s chaming cottage, potting room, and store for “Petal Pusher” (page 78).

Photographer Stephen Hong aims his lens at Michael and Katherine Graham for “Happening ’Hood” (page 100).

S A N TA B A R B A R A

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H O M E • S H O P P I N G • N E T W O R K

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BEST OF CONTRIBUTORS JESSICA SAMPLE

KEITH HAMM This

This Los Angeles-based photographer, whose images have been published in Travel + Leisure and National Geographic Traveler, spent a few days shooting various locations, including the Museum of Natural History Sea Center for “Under the Sea” (page 129). “The sea center was surprisingly fun,” she says. “The jellyfish are mesmerizing and also very calming to watch.”

freelance writer—who complied our Music section (page 143)—has created TV shows about professional surfing for ABC, formerly worked at the Santa Barbara Independent, and is currently putting the finishing touches on a coffee table book about the Santa Barbarabased Powell Peralta skateboard company and its legendary team, the Bones Brigade. S.B. MUST DOs Channel Islands campout. • Weekend lunch at

S.B. MUST DOs Walking at Loon Point.

Cold Spring Tavern. • Waterfall hike during (or after) heavy rains.

• The Santa Barbara Public Market is a one-stop foodie destination. • Biking around the lagoon.

DEWEY NICKS This Montecito-based photographer and occasional film director has shot for Vanity Fair, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, W, and more. He took to the seas to capture the lifestyle of actor Kevin Costner and his family for “Happy Kids, Happy Wife, Happy Life” (page 38).

VIJU MATHEW Born and raised in Santa Barbara, this former editor and current freelance writer—whose work has been published in Islands, Discovery Life, on NFL.com, and more—penned our Sports section (page 119). “I’ve long appreciated the outdoor pursuits our Mediterranean climate and unique geography afford,” he says. “Naturally, I’m always interested in learning about what others in town are up to when it comes to playing outside.” S.B. MUST DOs Exploring the Funk Zone’s Urban Wine Trail. • Cycling along

Mountain Drive. • Sunday Brunch at the Four Seasons Resort Biltmore.

CHRISTINE LENNON Having written for Harper’s Bazaar, Town & Country, The Wall Street Journal, and more, this Los Angeles-based writer contributed to our Home (page 65) and Garden (page 77) sections “with help from two very talented women who also happen to be some of my favorite people, Amanda Masters and Tamara KayeHoney,” she says. “I am in love with all things Santa Barbara, Summerland, Carpinteria, Ojai—all of it. I was surprised by how many of my favorite shops are there—from Botanik to Porch to Raoul Textiles.” S.B. MUST DOs The Canary Hotel

for a quick overnight and it’s walking distance from The Hungry Cat—can’t beat it. • The Montecito Country Mart is a little slice of heaven. • El Capitan Canyon for a not-quitecamping weekend.

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KILHO PARK Formerly embedded with the U.S. Navy, Park, who photographed “School of Hard Knocks” (page 124), has been published in the Miami Herald and numerous other publications globally. S.B. MUST DOs Happy hour and dinner at Lucky’s. • Coffee and cars— Sunday mornings on Coast Village Road. • Sit on the steps at Miramar Beach at night when the tide is up and just listen, think, and relax.

V I J U M AT H E W, J U A N J O S É D I A Z I N FA N T E

SB MUST DOs Drive fast over the little stone bridge on East Valley Road. • Play Sandpiper in the middle of the week. • Have a beer at Island Brewing Company while the Surfliner speeds by.

PHOTOGRAPHS: JESSICA SAMPLE, BETH GARRABRANT;

“It’s easy to spend time with the Costners. They epitomize what we love about living at the beach. Kids are in the mix, friends drop by, and the ocean is the background music.”

BEST OF 2015

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REPRE SEN TING TH E BE S T OF TH E S AN TA Y NE Z VALLE Y

Deer Lodge, a private ~187 acre oak woodlands estate, near the crest of San Marcos Pass, is equidistant to the ‘American Riviera City’ of Santa Barbara to the south and to the north, the world-wide acclaimed wine region centered in the Santa Ynez Valley. Originally built as a hunting lodge in 1905, the property remained in the hands of the John Deere family for over seven decades. The current owners, enchanted by the privacy, beautiful authentic early California style and the key location, purchased the property in the mid-1990s. Rare and not to be duplicated, this property is finely finished in every detail and architecturally significant. It is a family compound or a corporate retreat. A place to refresh the soul or to gather with family and friends.

DEERLOD GE SB.COM

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BEST OF LIVING

by GINA TOLLESON

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photographs by D E W E Y N I C KS

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HAPPY KIDS HAPPY WIFE HAPPY LIFE KEVIN COSTNER SAILS INTO A MILESTONE YEAR—THREE MOVIES, SEVEN CHILDREN, AND SIX DECADES OF LIVING TRUE

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“I

I reminded him recently at his 60th. “Wanna go back?” he chuckled. We both thought about it for a second, and both shook our heads no, laughing in relief. He immediately asked, “You alright?” And that’s the moment. The moment when you feel like you are the only one in the room, and he connects and listens. That’s Kevin’s real talent. You aren’t star struck, and he isn’t acting. Be prepared for a blunt yet thoughtful, straightforward response or advice. You won’t get patronized or an “everything will be okay.” But, somehow, just his authentic intent of looking out for you makes everything okay. It’s a story that runs through most of the toasts and conversations from friends and family that evening, an intimate circle of an unexpected familial entourage. There are no other celebrities, actors, high-octane entertainment executives (his lawyer and agent did make the cut), or up-and-comers in the room, instead, it’s his three younger ones—Cayden, 7, Hayes, 5, and Grace, 4—gallivanting freely through a maze of balloons with people gathered from all stages of his life, including his high school baseball coach, elementary buddies, former assistants, his three oldest—Annie, 30, Lily, 28, and Joe, 27—and his wife of 10 years, Christine. He genuinely seems happiest and more interested in hanging out with this gang more than anyone else in Hollywood. Fatherhood the second time around for Kevin isn’t much different than the first. The kids have always been a priority while he was making his career in film, whether it be coming directly off set and serenading Annie in an Elvis costume for her 16th birthday to showing up to every game, championship or performance for Lily and Joe, teaching Cayden and Hayes how to fish in the streams at their Aspen home or making coffee every morning and watching Frozen a hundred times over with Grace. “It’s not about if I have more or less time to spend with them at this phase in my life,” he says, “it’s more about can I still get on the ground and play just as hard and take them to do the fun stuff. It’s my children that are the ones who sacrifice when I go away to make movies. I’m proud and respect them for that.” It’s his children that he wants to know that their dad wasn’t afraid of anything. And his latest project might prove it more than others. Black or White is based on the experience writer/director Mike Binder (The Upside of Anger) had in helping raise his biracial nephew. It’s Kevin’s second collaboration with Binder, and even though early on Kevin recognized the quality of the script, it became obvious that the movie was not going forward unless he stepped up and paid for it himself. “My problem is I don’t fall out of love with something, and when it looked like the movie wasn’t going to get made, I went to Christine and we made a family decision to back this movie from our own pockets,” he says. “I want my kids to see that sometimes, you have to put what you have on the line when you really believe in something.” The movie takes contemporary racial divides head-on, and Kevin doesn’t play it safe in character or at the box office. “We aren’t having real discussions about race in real life or in our culture,” he says. “I’m not going to run away from it, I’m running right toward it. There are things that get said in this movie that a lot of us wish we could say. It was important to me and Christine for it to be an authentic look at where we are with race issues today, and I think we did that.”

S T Y L E D BY M I K E L A S WA N S O N ; H A I R A N D M A K E U P BY S T E P H A N I E DA N I E L ; I N T E R N , K A R A P E A R S O N

WAS AT YOUR 40TH BIRTHDAY PARTY, YOU KNOW...”

PREVIOUS PAGES :

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“It’s more about can I still play just as hard and take them to do the fun stuff,” says Costner of his second round of fatherhood. The family enjoys boat trips to the Channel Islands and paddleboarding off Serena Point.

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“I want my kids to see that sometimes, you have to put what you have on the line when you really believe in something.�

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Maika Monroe in an Irving & Fine velvet coat, swimsuit bottom by So De Mel, and jewelry by Daniel Gibbings. 47

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BEST OF STYLE

SCREEN TIME with MAIKA MONROE Kiteboarding champ turned upcoming Hollywood It Girl and now the face of Daniel Gibbings for 2015

Daniel Gibbings’s pieces represent my core—bohemian yet elegant, down-toearth yet glamorous. It was love at first sight.

BRAND STAND

I just finished filming a movie called The Fifth Wave (January 2016), based on a young adult novel by Rick Yancy. The book is so good. It’s the first dystopian novel that I read that scared me—it could really happen. My character is Ringer, a bad-ass sharpshooter. You want to have me on your team. (Wink wink.)

DEAD RINGER

Most of my characters I have played are quite different from me. I find it more of a challenge, and I like challenging myself. Creating new characters, bringing someone to life—that’s why I love my job. In one of my most recent films that just hit Cannes called It Follows, I have a very offbeat, vintage style—I wear this little light pink slip-looking dress with a fur coat over it, knee-high boots, and a choker that is pretty cool. The movie feels almost timeless—you can’t tell if you are in the ’70s, ’80s, or present.

ROLE PLAY

I start filming The Tribes of Palos Verdes with Jennifer Garner and Tye Sheridan this month. I’m excited for this role. I play a young girl who has a dysfunctional family and turns to surfing as her escape from the world. I can relate because kiteboarding is what keeps me sane in this industry—it’s what keeps me balanced and grounded. -G.T.

Eighteen-karat gold ring with bronze coin and white diamonds, $8,650; 22-karat gold and sterling silver ring with agate fire ancient intaglio, $7,450, danielgibbings.com.

MAIKA’S S.B. GO-TOs:

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“I’m in love with Valentino but also love rocking a nice suit from Tom Ford or something a little crazy from Emilio Pucci.” VALENTINO 48

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Hiking Tunnel Road up to Inspiration Point, santabarbarahikes.com. Vedanta Temple, 805-969-2903, vedanta.org. Have to eat at Super Cucas, 805-9624028, cucasrestaurant.com.

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DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT

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Jennifer Fisher “GROWING UP in Santa Barbara, I remember coveting the classic fine jewelry pieces that women would wear around Montecito. I think these pieces would fit perfectly with the high-end yet relaxed vibe of Santa Barbara.”

TRENDING

“It’s is all about wearable, clean, modern, and timeless classics.”

S.B. GO-TOs: Lobster at the Santa Barbara Shellfish Co., 805-966-6676, sbfishhouse .com, on Stearns Wharf. A trip to the Santa Barbara Zoo, 805-9625339, sbzoo.org, with my kids and Sarah Jones McFadden, my childhood best friend who still resides in Santa Barbara. Shopping for houseware items at Upstairs at Pierre Lafond, 805-563-1502, upstairsat pierrelafond.com.

Fourteen-karat gold charm choker, $2,200, 14-karat gold chain-link ID cuff, $5,000, 14-karat gold cigar band, $4,000, jennifer fisherjewelry.com.

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BEST OF STYLE

COZY CLASSICS “I’m inspired by natural colors, texture, and simplicity,” says designer Kate McMahon. Her baby alpaca, cashmere, linen, and cotton creations (from $300, kakoonhandknits.com) are “styles that endure the test of time.” Ellen DeGeneres and Oprah certainly think so. Available at Wendy Foster, 805-565-1506, wendyfoster.com.

ONE TO WATCH

Haley Carrere #instagood

@haleycarrere’s around about town posts.

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other high schooler—posting photos of her friends to a seemingly endless feed of pictures of coffee, sunsets, and beaches. That is, until she discovered a niche of more aesthetically minded accounts and set out to utilize her love of fashion, photography, and design to update her own. Her classic look often infused with newer pieces and accessories now has close to 13,000 followers of all ages spread across Europe, Asia, and Australia, not to mention throngs of American teens and women from both coasts. The fashion-savvy 17-year-old also runs a blog, thestylesnag.blogspot.com, and cites travel for relief work (some top destinations include France, Bali, and Mexico) as a major influence on her style “because it really has broadened my outlook on culture, textiles, and color,” she says. Currently obsessed with monochromatic looks, suede, vibrant graphic Ts, and Grace Coddington, she hopes to study in London and one day work as an editor of a fashion magazine, namely British Vogue. For now, she’s continuing to work at DIANI, and in October, is partnering with Teen Vogue for antibullying awareness month, volunteering with various community service projects, squeezing in some beach time, and taking her SATs. –CHARLOTTE BRYANT

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Antonella bikini, $260, So De Mel. Swarovski crystal Shourouk necklace, $770, Net-a-Porter.

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Band of Outsiders shirtdress, $575, Nordstrom.

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Michael John necklace, $8,500, Bryant & Sons. Le Rond cuff evening bag, from $1,200, Perrin Paris.

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Cuff, $89, Cabana Home. BELOW: Bonita top, $265, Heidi Merrick.

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Tom Ford sunglasses, $425, Occhiali. ALTUZARRA Freelance sandals, $560, Allora by Laura. Figueres bag, $1,400, Kendall Conrad.

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FROM LEFT : Gladys Tamez Millinery Bianca hat, $620, House of Honey. Dragonfly earrings, $29,000, Silverhorn. ABOVE : Necklaces, from $3,550, Sheryl Lowe.

Calfskin and braided fabric messenger bag, $7,400, Chanel.

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Adalu cuff, $95, Make Smith Leather Co. for Adesso.

Heather Wright braided leather strands, $220, Upstairs at Pierre Lafond. Shield pendant, $175, and rings, from $75, Torchlight.

Multi wool poncho, $298, Lotta Stensson. Rocio G. alligator Yuma bag, $2,500, Bonita.

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FROM LEFT : Natalie Martin Violet shorts, $283, and Heidi top, $296, Wendy Foster. Hair-on tassel clutch, $250, Koolabura x ER Leather Goods. Paradis boots, $210, Koolaburra.

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BORROW FROM THE BOYS Talking trends and the trade with INDUSTRY ICONS and ONES to WATCH

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“Easy. Modern and clean, crisp but not buttoned up, fitted but comfortable, a purveyor of California casual.” RIGHT NOW Outdoor lifestyle meets fashion. SeaVees paired with a slim suit for a sophisticated take on keeping it casual. UP NEXT An elevated, premium, almost aspirational take on shoes with beautiful leathers and details—and an expanded women’s line.

SHAWN STUSSY

S Double MY STYLE “Minimal” with loads of navy and sharp-cut suits (left). RIGHT NOW Surfing and board building—and posting curated rad images to blog.s-double.com. UP NEXT “Soulfulness.” With a cultlike following in Japan on the heels of his collaboration with Mastermind, his online shop feels more like a cool neighborhood spot.

GENE MONTESANO

Civilianaire The Lucky Brand Jeans’ cofounder opened the first Civilianaire store in 2011, continuing his credo of high-quality American craftsmanship. RIGHT NOW Classic utilitarian work-wear staples. UP NEXT More Japanese gold selvage denim woven on refurbished vintage shuttle looms. KNOWN FOR

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“Not premeditated—we are drawn to things and silhouettes that are timeless and don’t need to be remade.” RIGHT NOW Consolidation and simplification, a return to hospitality, care, and quality inspired by the restaurant industry. (And, of course, dressing Kevin Costner for our cover.) UP NEXT More stores and expanded object and home accessory lines. OUR STYLE

STEVEN D. SORIA Make Smith

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MY STYLE “I buy classics that are functional for work. I spend about 12 hours of my day in my leather shop/studio, so I have to pick clothes that are forgiving, keep me warm, and can still look good after I beat them up.” RIGHT NOW Normcore—white sneakers, zip-up sweatshirts, and pleated pants. UP NEXT Lots of new bags—the shopping tote was received well...new styles coming soon.

WALLACE PIATT

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Master Class

Through his nearly 50-year career—with two books and dozens of refined, often palatial homes (many of which have been featured in publications around the globe) on his résumé— Saladino has earned the right to “enjoy the fruits of his efforts,” as he says, by living the good life. “I’ve used up three-quarters of a century. It was a smart decision to spend many of those years here.” That doesn’t mean that he’s ready to put up his feet full-time just yet. Saladino and his team just completed a massive renovation and expansion of yet another Montecito home. “We built a glass solarium with a gorgeous fireplace, and joined the neighboring property, which we turned into a guest house with an Olmstead-style garden between the two. It’s magnificent, with nice views of the Pacific.” Off duty, you’re likely to spot this distinguished gentleman dining at the cozy bar at the Montecito Inn and sharing a slice of coconut cake (“it’s as close to a drug as a dessert can be”) with friends, having a Sunday breakfast of poached eggs with fennel sausage at Tre Lune, or shopping at Maison K for gifts. “I’ve been going to Upstairs since 1989,” he says. Saladino first discovered Santa Barbara as a child, when he drove up the coast in a Ford Fairlane convertible with his family and checked into the Biltmore, and knew instantly that one day he would live nearby. Saladino says that he sees his frequent visitors experience a similar revelation all the time. “I entertain constantly and I’m always hosting guests,” he says. “Whenever I take them down to see the ships in the glittering sun, their jaws drop. Every time.” –CHRISTINE LENNON Saladino’s Old World touches and exquisite use of light are trademarks of his composites. OPPOSITE: Saladino is fond of using Douglas fir in his projects, sometimes covering the whole ceiling with it for a rich patina hue. S A N TA B A R B A R A

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P H OTO G R A P H S : L U C A T R OVATO

The celebrated designer John Saladino is an expert on living well in Montecito. “When I land at the airport, it takes me 15 to 18 minutes to get to my home,” says Saladino, who spends about a third of the year in New York and the rest of it here in the latest of several houses that he has restored and decorated. “When I get home, my pool has been heated. Opera is playing. There’s a martini waiting for me. Then I go outside with my martini and a cigar, and I enjoy the garden and the mountain views and the music. I don’t need to run around when I have my own private hedon.”

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BEST OF HOME

An Amanda Masters Design interior.

The Sensorialist

DESIGNER AMANDA MASTERS ENGAGES ALL FIVE SENSES TO CREATE THE ULTIMATE RETREAT

4 TOUCH Tibetan goat rug, $950, Calypso St. Barth.

1 SOUND Folded record bureau, $7,576, Hugh Miller Furniture. 2 TASTE Tea cup with saucer and spoon, $98, tea pot, $425, Upstairs at Pierre Lafond.

5 SMELL Commune Scenter series by L’oeil du Vert, $2,400, communedesign.com.

3 SIGHT Garrett Speirs painting, price upon request, Rooms and Gardens. 68

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BEST OF HOME

A FRESH EYE Abigail Turin

and John Gans caught “the Santa Barbara bug” more than 10 years ago when the San Francisco-based couple spent Thanksgiving at the Four Seasons Resort Biltmore. Gans, an investment manager, set out on a quiet search to find a property near Padaro Beach. “We came down with our daughter when she was just a month old,” says Turin, a designer and cofounder of architecture firm Kallos Turin, which is known for crafting sleek, architectural structures around the world. With their daughter strapped into a Björn, Gans led Turin through the underpass to investigate a property that intrigued him, which was a thorough surprise to his wife. She recalls: “I said, ‘Well, as long as we’re playing this game, I think that’s the one I would want,’” as she pointed to a low-slung ’50s modern home that appeared to have been untouched since its original construction. They inquired about the property, which was for rent, and during the next few years, spent as much time as their schedules allowed at the home. Eventually, they bought it, and Turin has since shepherded it through a loving renovation, replacing the giant panes of untempered glass, eradicating mold and termites, and maintaining the home’s original footprint while other less-sensitive designers might have been tempted to raze it. Turin even transplanted a small rose garden to a different parcel of the property to preserve its original character. “Because we lived in the home as-is for years, I felt attached to certain things,” she says. “And because this house is always filled with guests and kids, nothing could be too precious.” Turin is also expanding her professional reach and is working on her friend Elizabeth Colling’s gourmet takeout shop at the Montecito Country Mart this year. –C.L.

Abigail Turin at her Padaro Beach home; the Kallos Turin-designed guest bedroom with Roe Etheridge photographs and a Missoni rug; outdoor fire pit framed by Paola Lenti furniture; the B&B Italia-filled living room. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT:

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P H OTO G R A P H S : D O M I N I Q U E VO R I L LO N ; B OT TO M L E F T, J O E F L E TC H E R

“I love everything about Padaro, especially the mix of sun and fog, which means the view is always changing.”

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BEST OF HOME

Family Matters

of selling at antique fairs and American Indian art shows, Michael Haskell first set up shop in 1969 with much of his inventory coming from local Santa Barbara collections and estates. The rest, as they say, is history. Haskell Antiques, 805-565-1121, michaelhaskell.com, now carries an extensive inventory of rare period furniture, textiles, religious art, ceramics, silver, and architectural items, and works closely with an impressive collection of designers, architects, and clients. His son, Eric Haskell, began buying and selling rare objects and furnishings early—he started going to flea markets and estate sales at age 4—and is also in the business of unearthing wildly unusual art and furnishings. Inheriting his father’s keen eye, Eric has been featured as a tastemaker on the popular e-commerce site One Kings Lane three times. AFTER SEVERAL YEARS

–CHARLOTTE BRYANT

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP:

Syrian 19th-century dresser; French 1930s brass and walnut table; Don Shoemaker leather sling chairs made in Mexico in the 1960s; Eric Haskell.

TOP 5 Matt Albiani and Ron Brand’s collection of rare nautical finds, vintage textiles, out-of-print books, and rotating art at MATE GALLERY, 805-895-6283, mate gallery.com, transforms their small space in the Montecito County Mart into an installation itself. They also recently launched a TIPS FROM THE PROS new online store that ships any- 1 Wherever our travels take where in the country. Now, well us, we are on the hunt for a vintage shop. into their second year of bring2 Look for large, multi-vendor ing the best of New England to antique malls, which are Southern California, the pair usually less expensive. shares some tips on where to dig 3 Our motto is: “Usually, if it looks like a mess, the deals up your own hidden treasures are in there somewhere.” and what they are on the hunt 4 Dig! Yard sales in expensive towns are also a good bet. for in 2015. –C.B. 72

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:

A collection of items in Mate Gallery; vintage German roebuck; Matt Albiani and Ron Brand.

LOVES

• Anything vintage from the old Miramar hotel—or vintage Miramar in general! • Any vintage ocean taxidermy. • Vintage brass is still selling strong in the shop. • Old books from Ernest Hemingway. • Antique antlers like the one from our new shop online.

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BEST OF HOME

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IT TAKES TWO “DIANI isn’t just for ladies anymore,” says Jeffrey Doornbos of his and wife Caroline Diani’s new home boutique DIANI Living, 805-770-7043, dianiliving.com. In the space, the duo—who have been planning to collaborate on a project since their 2013 nuptials—have curated their home and garden concept into a jewel of a brick-and-mortar store. The couple travels extensively to uncover everyday items like Moroccan towels, Japanese scissors, and quirky vintage finds that embody both beauty and functionality. –C.B.

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JOHNSTON; DIANI LIVING, JESSICA SAMPLE

P H OTO G R A P H S : H U T T E H U T, S K Y E M O O R H E A D A N D DAV I D

Since being honored as the Best of Dwell Outdoor at Dwell on Design 2014, the 44-square-foot Hütte Hut, huttehut.com, is on a roll. The design and product of Carpinteria-based Sprouting Sprocket Studios, the teardrop-shaped canvas and wood caravan is a beautifully crafted, road-ready retreat. A combination of classic and modern design, this cozy camper is the perfect size for two and equally fit for cross country adventures or a backyard barbecue. –C.B.

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We’re OBSESSED with... LEATHER & LACE Maison K’s Kim Phillips accents a traditional, modern, or bohemian space with a handstitched leather pillow ($295, maionkstyle.com) from Morocco.

MS. MIX-A-LOT Designer Megan Rice Yager’s melange of persimmon velvet, leopard pillows, and Donald Robertson’s neon gaffer tape art is a collage worth lounging for.

GROOVY GIRLS

P H OTO G R A P H S : G I A N N I VA L L I N O , B E T H C O L L E R

The Stephanie Vovas photography collection (from $1,250, houseofhoney.com) is “quintessential California ’60s/’70s beach bombshell vibe,” says Tamara Kaye-Honey.

STAYCATION

CASSIS CHIC

James Perse’s limited collection Montecito chair (price upon request, jamesperse.com) puts you in the mood in your own backyard.

Agraria’s air essence diffuser ($120, agrariahome.com) in Golden Cassis is a spicy, stress-reducing aroma.

ENLIGHTENED ISOLATED FROM THEIR PROSAIC FUNCTION,

lamps (price upon request, giannivallino modernlighting.com, and Raoul Textiles, 805899-4947, raoultextiles.com) by Gianni Vallino, reveal themselves as exquisite, one-of-a-kind sculptures meticulously crafted from industrial detritus (airplane filters, pressure gears, metal fittings). The Italian-born, Santa Barbara-based lighting designer—whose creative inspiration includes early 20th-century modernist art movements like Vienna’s Wiener Werkstätte and Germany’s Bauhaus—has dubbed his innovative reclamation efforts “post-industrial alchemy”; no doubt his collectors call it art. –L.D. PORTER

Gianni Vallino

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Beautifully crafted in Vermont of solid walnut.

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PLANTING THE SEED The grass is always greener in our Shangri-la

P H O T O G R A P H S B Y C O R A L V O N Z U M W A LT

Carpinteria’s Rose Story Farm. 77

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BEST OF GARDEN

PETAL PUSHER

TOP TO BOTTOM: Danielle Hahn, the current Great Rosarian of the World; the ‘Crown Princess Margareta’ English rose.

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M A K E U P BY TO M I KO TA F T

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anielle and Bill Hahn’s Rose Story Farm’s buds and blossoms—as well as their beloved, organic Carpinteria farm’s produce—have been local treasures for more than 25 years. The first time Danielle (a Montecito native and Stanford graduate) was featured in this magazine, her sons were kids playing on the hillside. “I’m looking at the picture on my wall, and my older son who’s in his 20s now must be about 11 in this photo,” she says. “Our boys still come here to explore, to check out the turtles in the pond, and to play around outside— and they’re grown.” Now, it seems, Danielle’s work has become a global treasure. Last spring, she was honored with the prestigious Great Rosarian of the World Award in one ceremony at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx and another closer to home at the The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. “I am only the third woman to receive the award and the fifth American, so it’s quite an honor and a big deal for me,” she says. “I still haven’t completely recovered.” As pioneers in the world of handcut, pesticidefree commercial flower growers, the Hahns were early adapters of the sustainable gardening movement. With no formal training aside from Bill’s childhood experiences on a potato farm in Washington State, they started as passionate amateurs and slowly built their business from 1,000 bushes on a small avocado and lemon farm to the roughly 30,000-plant operation it is today. Hahn, in her typically modest way, gives most of the credit for their success to the microclimate that surrounds their property. “We’re in this little canyon, where centuries worth of soil has washed down. We have 18 feet of pure, dark loamy soil. The breezes through the canyon are critical because roses need the circulation, and we’re high enough to avoid coastal fog so we don’t get many disease problems,” she says. “The drought hasn’t caused much of an issue because roses can get by on very little water. We do have some issues with mildew and gophers— the gophers are really the bane of my existence,” she says. “But other than that, I’m not sure there are any downsides to being here and doing what we’re doing.” –CHRISTINE LENNON

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M A K E U P BY TO M I KO TA F T

The formal garden of Rose Story Farm.

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Paul Fortune with his prized staghorn fern.

BEST OF GARDEN

POTS à deux Paul Fortune and Chris Brock collaborate on one-of-a-kind garden pottery that feels modern with an air of Provence

AFTER MOVING TO OJAI last year, Brock took up pottery after Fortune was having a difficult time finding good large pots for his clients. So off to the pottery studio he went, “finding some peace in the slow tempo of the ancient method of coiling,” he says. Working with his mentor Larry Carnes, Brock was set on creating subtle, ancient-looking rose/mauve glazes and indulging in the process of handmade art. “My inspiration comes from all the marvelous things around me: an Andalusian roof line, an Art Deco cuff link, a Rolls-Royce door handle, the way a cat walks...you know, the good stuff.” –G.T. Chris Brock in his Ojai living room.

“They are very strong pieces that really pull your attention,” says Paul. “These would work in a contempoary setting or on an old estate.” PLOTTING FOR POTS Botanik 805-565-3831, botanikinc.com.

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PHOTOGRAPH: ARTHUR PINKERS

“My work has been influenced by California Deco and Etruscan pottery,” says Chris. “Also ’40s Mexican and of course, Ojai!”

Pots (from $500, chrisguybrock@gmail.com).

PHOTOGRAPHS: PORTRAITS, DEWEY NICKS

Eye of the Day 805-566-6500, eyeofthedaygdc.com. Italian Pottery Outlet 805-564-7655, italianpottery.com. Porch 805-684-0300, porchsb.com.


PHOTOGRAPH: ARTHUR PINKERS

PHOTOGRAPHS: PORTRAITS, DEWEY NICKS

Did You Know ?

ORCHIDS first took root in Santa Barbara near

Cymbidium Carol Rogers ‘Hatfield’s’.

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the turn of the 20th century as individuals flocked to new resorts for a winter retreat. Since then, the industry has continued to bloom locally—with five commercial orchid nursuries in the area—and this year, the Santa Barbara International Orchid Show, 805403-1533, sborchidshow.com, celebrates its 70th anniversary March 13 to 15. The first celebration of the exotic flowers took place in Montecito in 1945, and the show (tickets: from $12) has been housed in its current location, the Earl Warren Showground’s rotunda, since the early ’60s. –CHARLOTTE BRYANT

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BEST OF GARDEN

FLOWER POWER

Widely known as the Mission Rose Garden, it began in 1955 with a donation of 500 select rose bushes. In 1984, the Virginia Firth Wade Endowment Fund donated what was needed to restore the deteriorated garden on the condition that it be renamed the A.C. POSTEL MEMORIAL ROSE GARDEN, Plaza Rubio, Santa

Grab a wide-brimmed hat and survey these enchanting spots where the grass really is greener

Barbara, 805-564-5433. The picturesque ALICE KECK PARK MEMORIAL GARDEN, 1500 Santa Barbara St., Santa Barbara, 805-564-5484, is a full city block that was purchased in 1975 by Mrs. Alice Keck Park and subsequently given to the city for public use. Now, it boasts 75 different species of plants and trees as well as a thriving koi and turtle pond. One of the most well-preserved examples of a 1920s Montecito estate, the grounds and gardens of CASA DEL HERRERO, 1387 E. Valley Rd., Montecito, 805-565-5653, casadelherrero.com, were designed by landscape architects Ralph T. Stevens and Lockwood de Forest Jr. This year marks the 90th anniversary of the beloved property. (Reservations required.) Among the top wedding locations in the city, the COURTHOUSE SUNKEN GARDENS, 1100 Anacapa St., Santa Barbara, 805-9626464—surrounding one of the most beautiful government buildings in America—are also host to a plethora of public events.

Cold Springs Rd., 805-969-9990, lotusland.org—a collection of more than 3,000 plants from all over the world—is the culmination of one unconventional woman’s passion and home to a variety of inimitable horticultural spectacles. (Reservations required.) Not just another pretty park, the SANTA BARBARA BOTANIC GARDEN, 1212 Mission Canyon

The A.C. Postel Memorial Rose Garden.

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Rd., Santa Barbara, 805-682-4726, sbbg.org, is an accredited museum, and 23 of its 78 acres have County Historic Landmark Status. –C.B.

P H OTO G R A P H : C O R A L VO N Z U M WA LT

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H A I R B Y J O E L M A L L E T/ B E L L E D E J O U R S A LO N ; M A K E U P, TO M I KO TA F T

BE OUR GUEST From setting the table to trends of easy, elegant soirees on the go, our entertaining pros are in the know

BY ANGELIA DE MEISTRE-HAMMER

P H O T O G R A P H S B Y C O R A L V O N Z U M W A LT

Yifat Oren at home in Ojai. S A N TA B A R B A R A

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BEST OF ENTERTAINING

LABOR of LOVE

D

espite a résumé rife with A-list weddings and soirees, bicoastal event producer Yifat Oren would be the first to shy away from her “celebrity party planner” title. And though the industry veteran of 16 years would readily assert her coveted top-notch rank, she, without missing a beat, would also avow that her success is merely the result of her “complete, all-out passion” for her work and her selfdescribed understated and eclectic vision. Producing events that she says “put the focus on what’s truly important,” she lets nature and soul take center stage. “I truly believe that we are headed into a time of less display and more emotion; less show, more meaning,” she affirms. Trading the usual suspects for “surprising locations like a sunset wedding on a Colorado ranch, a walk through the Redwoods in Big Sur, or a luscious garden party in Montecito,” it should come as little surprise that the “total design and architecture geek” and part-time Ojai resident should possess an affinity for the natural mecca we call home. She notes, “Professionally, I’ve created so many events here—celebrations of love and life—that I’ve developed an emotional connection to Santa Barbara.” –A.D.H. FROM TOP LEFT: Oren arranging flowers in her newly remodeled kitchen; pillows from Jenni Kayne Home accent the vintage table—“our go-to for breakfast french toast (brioche from Knead Bakery), late-night cheese and wine, and a mean game of Rummikub,” says Oren; peonies from a local market.

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When sourcing table decor, Oren frequents Ojai’s In the Field and Dekor. BELOW: Pierre Deux wallpaper, metal Restoration Hardware chairs mix with others from Environment Furniture, and pillows from a flea market in Tel Aviv.

ABOVE:

“Make it comfortable, make it chic, enjoy yourself, and the others will follow suit.”

YIFAT’S BLACK BOOK VENUE Villa Sevillano, 805-220-6100, villasevillano.com, is a private estate with an ocean view in the Carpinteria foothills. FLOWERS Based in the Santa Ynez Valley, Mindy Rice Floral and Event Design, 805688-2499, mindyrice.com, is very talented. LINENS/DECOR Jenni Kayne Home, 805-

309-0560, jennikayne.com, as well as Ojai’s In the Field, 310-403-4292, inthefieldojai.com, and Dekor, 213-375-7627, dekorla.com, all have chic finds. HOSTESS GIFT Jessica Foster Confections,

805-637-6985, jessicafosterconfections.com, makes excellent chocolates for sharing.

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BONNE SOIREE

I

SETTING A TABLE Know your budget. Keep in mind the priorities that are most important to you. Hone your vision. Your tabletop should reflect both your personal design aesthetic as well as the degree of formality and environment you’re hoping to create. Details Matter. Nothing is more beautiful or professional than when every piece of flatware is straight and each glass perfectly aligned. 90

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P H O T O G R A P H : L I LY R O

The pair glean inspirations from their drives up the coast. Their favorite venues? Private estates that dot the mountains in Montecito.

After planning their wedding in 2011, they married their individual tastes by way of premier specialty tabletop rental company, Casa de Perrin, 760-703-2366, casade perrin.com. Though young in the business, with their melded dichotomous aesthetic of Old World-elegance meets casual California lifestyle—think antique Florentine chargers, cut crystal, pressed-glass goblets, and champagne coupes juxtaposed with teak flatware and Heath ceramics—combined eye for detail, and fondness for vintage finds, the dynamic duo has already risen the ranks of So-Cal’s established realm of event planning and earned a top spot in our personal party-planning black books. Drawing creative inspiration from our coastline and mountainsides, Josh and Diana are quick to cite Santa Barbara area locales such as the Sunstone Villa, the San Ysidro Ranch, and the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa as ideal venues to accent. –A.D.H.

P H OTO G R A P H S : PA I G E J O N E S P H OTO G R A P H Y

f there’s anything we’ve gleaned from the catalog of soirees, galas, and weddings we have covered, it is that little exists in the way of a formula when planning, designing, and executing a sublime event. After all, each is entirely relevant to the host’s taste, occasion for celebration and, naturally, budget. Yet, whether it’s a quiet dinner party or holiday jaunt, we cannot help but note that all successful fetes share two overriding components: a whole lot of love and artistic vision—a combo that Brooks Instituteeducated architectural photographer, Josh Perrin, and his wife, food and prop stylist, Diana, know a thing or two about.


P H O T O G R A P H : L I LY R O

O N E T O WAT C H For floral designer Tracey Morris, practice makes perfect. Relying on her UC Santa Barbara art history education and experience working with everyone from “bucket shops” to high-end Los Angeles design studios, she imagines beyond the confines of the traditional and caters to the personalized tastes of her varied clientele. Morris creates beautiful—and often unconventional—arrangements out of her local design studio ELLA & LOUIE, 805-722-5553, ellaandlouie.com, (under the watchful eyes of her two cats of the same names). With a strong preference for bulb flowers, seeds and pods, hellebores, budding branches, and other experimental color and texture combinations, arrangements past have utilized an array of edible vegetation, including artichokes, persimmons, lemons, and radishes. –A.D.H.

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BEST OF ENTERTAINING

SHOP & SIP has always been a dream of mine and I love that it’s come to fruition,” she adds. Aptly located behind The Lark’s restaurant space, Bird Dog serves double duty as home to the Santa Barbara Wine Collective, 805-456-2700, santabarbarawinecollective.com, a tasting space dedicated to illuming the county’s “unique terroir,” says general manager Alejandro Medina. “It’s the only tasting room in Santa Barbara where you can taste wines from six different producers side by side.” Dining alfresco? Choose from a variety of vino offerings from Babcock, Fess Parker, Ca’del Grevino, Qupé, Sandhi, Jonata, the Paring, or Hilt Vineyards to pair with your antipasto. –A.D.H.

What’s In?...

INDIGO

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Assorted vintage indigo textiles, from $139, Urban Outfitters; Rachel Craven ikat napkins, $96, In the Field; Natalie Martin vintage textile, $120, Wendy Foster; striped linen napkins, $18 each, Upstairs at Pierre Lafond.

LEFT TO RIGHT:

PHOTOGRAPHS: BIRD DOG, STEVEN HONG

Funk Zone restaurateur Sherry Villanueva and world-renowned chef/ culinary entrepreneur Cat Cora come together with their home and entertaining retail destination, Bird Dog Mercantile, 805-450-2473, birddogmercantile.com, that epitomizes the industrial chic aesthetic of the aforementioned and breathes a welcome urban sensibility to Santa Barbara’s coastal cool interiors landscape. “I’ve always wanted to have a home, garden, and entertainment mercantile,” says Cora of the concept, which carries a slew of singular finds and fair-trade sustainable goods for your beachside bungalow or spring soiree, including BTW Ceramics, Brooklyn Slate cheese and cutting boards, and Wild Well Candles. “This

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THE GOOD LIFE Indulge your cravings with our region’s bounty of fresh food and fine vintages

EDITED BY GINA Z. TERLINDEN

Jamie and Julie Kellner having lunch with friends in their vineyard. 97

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BEST OF FOOD+WINE

A Taste of the Valley MUST-HAVE MEALS Buoni Anni Bianco ($32, centanniwines.com) is our version of wines we love from the northeastern region of Italy—Pinot Grigio, Pinot Bianco, and Tocai Friulano—that also grow beautifully in our valley. It offers complexity followed by a dry, smooth finish. We make linguine with Santa Barbara mussels, garlic, parsley, and tomatoes and drink the whole bottle.

The salumi and cheeses at Industrial Eats, 805-688-8807, industrialeats.com— fun, sophisticated, and casual dining a few blocks from the winery. Robbie Wilson’s côte de boeuf at Mattei’s Tavern, 805-688-3550, matteis tavern.com. The Cent’Anni Red Label and ribs kill together! The bacon at Sides Hardware and Shoes, 805688-4820, sidesrestaurant.com. They don’t have a BLT on the menu, but with a little coaxing, you may get lucky! We love the Rollino Veneto at Trattoria Grappolo, 805-688-6899, trattoriagrappolo.com. It’s a rolledup pizza with braised radicchio and smoked mozzarella served with tomato, basil, and garlic.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The afternoon buffet-style lunch; the succulent côte de boeuf with shishito peppers at Mattei’s Tavern; the Rollino Veneto at Trattoria Grappolo.

“We love to fire up our outdoor pizza oven and invite friends over for long, wonderful, meandering meals with great wines (usually our Cent’Anni Red Label Riserva).”

BON APPETIT CRAVING A GOURMET MEAL but haven’t quite mastered the art of French cooking? Now you can enjoy a fresh and healthy dinner at home with tasty takeout from Merci to go, 917-292-6684, mercitogo.com, the vision of former Martha Stewart Living and Martha Stewart Weddings food editor and local pastry professional, Elizabeth Colling, and her husband Stephane, an accomplished food and beverage director. “We saw the need for this type of shop in our own neighborhood,” says Elizabeth, “and have been excited to create a menu that we hope customers will love as much as we do.” The new spot in the Montecito Country Mart offers organic, seasonal, Frenchinspired cuisine ranging from a demi-baguette with grass fed steak and horseradish fromage blanc to gluten-free peanut butter chocolate chip cookies as well as a full range of lunch and dinner options. –CHARLOTTE BRYANT

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P H OTO G R A P H S : M AT T E I ’ S TAV E R N , G A R Y M O S S P H OTO G R A P H Y; T R AT TO R I A G R A P P O L O , L U C A T R OVATO ; M E R C I TO G O, E L I Z A B E T H M E S S I N A

Having lived in Montecito part-time since 1978, JAMIE AND JULIE KELLNER have always considered Santa Barbara home. Formerly a television executive and commercial banker respectively, the couple—with an affinity for all things Italian—now focuses the majority of their time managing their Cent’Anni Vineyards in Los Olivos. –G.Z.T.

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A LIFETIME OF EXPERIENCE

EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME

I love to find ways to go well beyond our clients’ expectations. Using my 30 years of experience in managing projects helps me deliver an unmatched experience every step of the way. Above all, people always appreciate clear and consistent communication so they have peace of mind throughout the entire process.

This was one of our most successful projects, due largely to the exceptional project team at DD Ford. They worked diligently and paid special care and attention to the integrity of the detailing to create a house that the clients could call home. The team continually contributed to the thoughtful building process every step of the way.

Steve Crandall

Mary Andru laitis

Project Manager

Architect

AWARD WINNING SINCE 1980

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Happening ’Hood

Handlebar Coffee Roasters and bike parking in front; C’est Cheese’s Michael and Katherine Graham and some of their tasty imports. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP:

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PHOTOGRAPHS: C’EST CHEESE, STEVEN HONG; HANDLEBAR COFFEE ROASTERS, SETH EPSTEIN

This year, be sure to hit up the PRESIDIO NEIGHBORHOOD, presidio neighborhoodsb.com. Hugh Margerum, a local artist and web sales manager at Margerum Wine Company, coined the name based on the historical landmark on Canon Perdido and Santa Barbara streets—the upper corner of the area that extends over to State Street and down to De la Guerra Street. “As someone who has been in business for a long time in this part of downtown Santa Barbara—we founded the Wine Cask in 1981—I have seen the neighborhood go through many changes and ups and downs over the years,” says Margerum. “I polled the businesses and organizations of the neighborhood and found people were enthusiastic about getting the word out and getting visitors to venture off State Street and explore the Presidio Neighborhood.” There, 15 restaurants, six wine tasting rooms, more than a dozen shops, and other sites are drawing a crowd that’s not just into eating and drinking but culture and history as well. continued on page 102 >

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Felino salami, Golden Valley Pecorino, and Brie Fermier from C’est Cheese.

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Situated within the Spanish colonial historic El Paseo amid the Presidio Neighborhood is the WINE COLLECTION OF EL PASEO, facebook .com/WineCollectionofElPaseo, where six different tasting rooms—Au Bon Climat, Grassini, Happy Canyon Vineyard, Jamie Slone Wines, Margerum Wine Company, and MWC32—are now open and pouring their latest and greatest vintages. Jamie Slone, who has spearheaded the branding of this group, says, “I believe the consumer wants an easy way to connect with, relate to, and identify with the tasting rooms. As the architect of the Wine Collection of El Paseo, it only seemed natural to create a brand that was representative of Santa Barbara and the ultrapremium wineries, to create an experience for the adult consumer and serious wine/food enthusiast but with a laid-back Santa Barbara vibe.” –G.Z.T.

“Santa Barbara County is the new darling of the wine industry.” CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Hugh Margerum; a bottle of Grassini Cabernet Sauvignon and the tasting room bar; Kym and Jamie Slone and some mementos of bottles enjoyed at their El Paseo tasting room.

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PHOTOGRAPHS: STEVEN HONG

—JA M IE S LO N E

BEST OF 2015

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BEST OF FOOD+WINE

AM

COFFEE

Housed in a former Shell station on the corner of Mission and De la Vina streets and known for serving up one of the best breakfast burritos in town, THE DAILY GRIND, 805-687-4966, dailygrindsb.com, offers a wide selection of rotating coffees. Check out the new location further up De la Vina Street.

TOP TO BOTTOM : The French Press; Green Star Coffee inside the Santa Barbara Public Market; Handlebar Coffee Roasters.

Drawing hip crowds for its Wi-Fi and numerous outlets as well as its proximity to the Saturday morning farmers market, THE FRENCH PRESS 805-962-7733, thefrenchpress.com, on Anacapa Street is popular for their espresso drinks, house-baked pastries, and loose-leaf teas. Everyone knows GREEN STAR COFFEE, 805-683-2555, greenstar coffee.com, for the certified organic fair-trade wholesale beans, but their location downtown provides the perfect stop for a pick-me-up while strolling the Santa Barbara Public Market. Not surprisingly, bike-friendly HANDLEBAR COFFEE ROASTERS, 719201-3931, handlebarcoffee.com, attracts cyclists from all over the Santa Barbara area (with its new bike parking recently put in on the street). However, Kim Anderson and Aaron Olson’s delicious cold brew, Renaud’s Patisserie croissants, and location in the Presidio Neighborhood attract plenty of pedestrians as well. Located in the heart of Carpinteria, the cute and cozy LUCKY LLAMA, 805-684-8811, boasts indie/alternative music, rotating art, and healthy treats as well. Known affectionately as “RoCo,” SANTA BARBARA ROASTING COMPANY, 805-962-0320, sbcoffee.com, does small-batch roasting and unique blends. Being close to the beach, it’s a great spot to pick up a drink and pastry or gluten-free option before strolling Cabrillo Boulevard.

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PHOTOGRAPHS: TOP TO BOTTOM, JESSICA SAMPLE, STEVEN HONG, COREY SANDERS

Whether your morning ritual is dedicated to the craft of coffee from bean to brew or a two-pump coconut skinny extra-hot split quad-shot latte with no foam, the right coffee shop can prove the ultimate find. For everyone from the coffee connoisseur to those who simply nurture a commitment to caffeine—and still don’t know what cold brew is—these local spots offer the perfect blend.

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A term coined in 1959 by the Saturday Evening Post, happy hour has become an American institution. Nothing helps erase a long workday or brace for the night ahead like a good cocktail, especially when paired with the perfect appetizer. So spend a happy hour, or two, around town enjoying some wallet-friendly, high-quality cocktails and eats. Offering not one, but two happy hours (3 to 7 pm and 9 pm till close and all day Sunday) and plenty of seating, it’s easy to catch a cocktail and grown-up grilled cheese at ARCH ROCK, 805-845-2800, archrocksantabarbara.com. Step back in time at the BOURBON ROOM, 805-265-3788, from 5 to 7 pm every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. The bar also stays open late if you’re up for a nightcap and happy hour runs all night every Wednesday. The small but mighty bar at CA’DARIO, 805-884-9419, cadario.net, is a great place to grab a drink before dinner of ravioli or carpaccio. Head to the lounge at CADIZ, 805-770-2760, cadizsb.com, every Sunday through Friday from 5 to 7 pm—it’s the perfect spot to sip a drink and people watch. A local favorite with happy hour from 4 to 6 daily, CAVA, 805-969-8500, cavarestaurant.com, offers afternoon indulgences like agave margaritas and mini appetizers at the bar.

A Manhattan at the Bourbon Room, the festive bar at Lucky’s; the signature Cocchi de Cadiz.

Tucked away in La Arcada, tasty margaritas, small plates, and turtle watching dominate from 4 to 6 pm at CIELITO, 805-965-4770, cielitorestaurant.com. Deals on plates of steamers and proximity to the water and Funk Zone continue to help make ENTERPRISE FISH CO., 805-962-3313, enterprisefishco.com/santabarbara, a popular destination. Every Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 pm, THE HUNGRY CAT, 805-884-4701, thehungrycat.com, offers a unique farmers market-driven cocktail program, well-edited wine list, rotating local beers, and great deals on fresh oysters. Upscale and intimate, INTERMEZZO, 805-966-9463, intermezzosb .com, features temperature-controlled wines on tap and a delightful small menu in a cozy fireplace setting. Formerly known as the Pink Squirrel (1950s), Ireland’s (’60s), The Chanteclair (’70s), The Grill (’80s), and The Coast Village Grill (’90s), Montecito’s favorite hangout, the bar at LUCKY’S, 805-565-7540, luckys-steakhouse.com, is here to stay.

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PHOTOGRAPHS: TOP TO BOTTOM, JESSICA SAMPLE, STEVEN HONG, COREY SANDERS

TOP TO BOTTOM :

For a more secluded spot, perusing the menu from 3 to 6 pm at MONTECITO WINE BISTRO, 805-969-7520, pierrelafond.com, is a relaxing way to start the evening.

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Raise your spirits at the full bars at both OLIO PIZZERIA, 805-8992699, and OLIO CRUDO BAR, 805-899-2699, olioelimone.com, while enjoying some incredible Italian eats. Get a jump-start on the weekend Thursday or Friday from 4 to 6 pm at SAMA SAMA, 805-965-4566, samasamakitchen.com, with tasty drinks and incredible Asian-inspired small bites in a trendy atmosphere. Down in the Funk Zone, SEVEN, 805-845-0377, sevensb.com, is where many experience cocktail envy every afternoon. –C.B. S A N TA B A R B A R A

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SIP TIPS With 20-plus years in the food and wine industry— from working as a waiter at Spago Beverly Hills to sommelier and restaurant manager at the Wine Cask, then assistant at the Ojai Vineyard, and now as a wine broker with business partner Kyle Erickson for VanceErickson, vanceerickson.com, and importer/distributor The Source, thesourceimports.com—TED VANCE knows his wines. “I suppose I have a bias when selecting wines from Santa Barbara County, as I wouldn’t work with a producer if I didn’t enjoy the wines they make or their philosophies,” he says. “But there are others that I admire as well who I don’t work with, and they are in the mix too.” –G.Z.T.

back to those days in the mid-’90s when I started drinking wines from Santa Barbara. The age of these vines lends this wine a lovely and complex array of savory stone fruits and taut acidity that keeps the secondary and tertiary notes of white flowers, honeysuckle and lightly sweetened pastries, dry and fresh. It’s a venture back into a nostalgic moment for me, both in style and taste.

Most people associate Riesling with its sweeter German cousins, but that’s not the case with the 2012 Tatomer Riesling “Kick-on Ranch” (tatomerwines.com). Graham Tatomer spent four vintages in Austria (where they make dry Rieslings) learning how to select Riesling to make a balanced and original wine. This one skips over the flamboyant fruity characters often found in American Rieslings and moves straight into savory notes of dried yellow grasses, spice, wet stone, variations of tea, and dried yellow and white fruits. And Riesling goes with almost any type of food, making it more versatile than your “usual suspects” in the California white wine scene.

The California wine industry is subjected to many ebbs and flows in “wine fashion.” There are those that jump on the current bandwagon, and those that just do what they’ve always done. Seth Kunin is one of those guys that does it his way. The 2009 Kunin Syrah “Alisos Vineyard” ($55, kuninwines.com) is a classically styled Syrah: aromas of pepper, dark fresh fruits, and earth with a palate of spice, wild berry fruit, and a graphite-like finish. I’ve always thought that if you are missing the peppery aspects in a Syrah, they didn’t do it right. Seth does it right.

When Justin Willett first started making wine in 2005, he had just a couple of vineyards in his stable. Over the years, he’s added a lot of new ones and some great old ones, like Sanford and Benedict. Tasting the 2012 Tyler Chardonnay “Sanford and Benedict” ($55, tylerwinery.com) brings me 106

Ted Vance in his element.

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While there are many new exciting vineyards, the 2012 Ojai Vineyard Pinot Noir “Bien Nacido” ($49, ojaivineyard.com) is a classic. There’s something to be said for the wines that are produced from 40-plusyear-old vines—they produce grapes that Adam Tolmach crafts into beautifully layered and elegant, complex aromas and tastes. This wine is a beauty—it’s a very savory expression of Pinot Noir, which I prefer to the overtly fruity renditions of this most noble grape.

Often times, when people make Grenache as a single-variety bottling, they try to do too much. Grenache doesn’t need to carry extraction and over-ripeness to show off its merits; I think it’s best when it is more on the elegant side. Blake Sillix’s 2011 Sillix Grenache “Santa Ynez Valley” ($57, lesmarchandswine.com) is just that: pretty, fresh, structured, and elegant. To my delight, the fruit characters are more in the red world than the black or purple. Along with the fruit, the nose has flowers and a little bit of meat and spice. In the mouth, the wine mirrors the nose and has polished, dusty tannins. It’s a perfect wine for mixed company because it’s not overwhelming nor underwhelming—it’s just right. BEST OF 2015

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BEST OF FOOD+WINE O N E T O WAT C H

–ANGELIA DE MEISTRE-HAMMER

TOP TO BOTTOM:

Julian Martinez; garden lettuces.

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Industrial Eats’ Jeff Olsson.

HIDDEN GEM

Tucked in a warehouse on a side street in Buellton, Jeff and Janet Olsson’s INDUSTRIAL EATS, 805-688-8807, industrial eats.com, is the happening restaurant/butcher shop/deli churning out flavorful, rustic salads, wood-fired pizzas, sandwiches, and more. The owners of New West catering opened this spot last year to reach the public directly. “For years, I had wanted a retail aspect to New West,” says Jeff, who also offers pig butchery and other workshops on occasion. “We have always made as much of our food in-house as possible—we smoke our own salmon, make our own bacon, ham, and pastrami. Some of our clients knew they could purchase this, but without a storefront, it was tough to get the word out. Industrial Eats started as a market. I like to say it is an opening of our kitchen to the public.” Place your order at the counter and grab a seat at one of the communal tables or by the pizza ovens, or take your order to-go and head next door to the new ALMA ROSA tasting room, 805688-9090, alma rosawinery.com. Richard and Thekla Sanford’s new modern digs are a serene, relaxing spot to sip wines in an airy atmosphere anchored by a majestic live The Alma Rosa olive tree gleaming tasting room. under a skylight. –G.Z.T.

P H OTO G R A P H : I N D U S T R I A L E AT S , J E F F R E Y B LO O M

Whether judging from Julian Martinez’s achievements as a champion cross-country runner at Cate School or as a graduate from the illustrious Claremont McKenna College, for those close to him, the notion of earning culinary star status by his 25th birthday and becoming co-owner and head chef of Santa Barbara’s newest haunt, Barbareño (the historically accurate title for inhabitants of the area), 805-963-9591, barbareno.com, is no surprise. While smoking his competition in the kitchen rather than on a track, Martinez’s culinary venture is the result of the camaraderie with teammate/co-owner/restaurant manager/sommelierin-training Jesse Gaddy and fellow chef Owen Havanan, laser-beam focus and work ethic, appetite for success, and practice in Bay Area hot spots like The French Laundry. With dishes that utilize native and foraged ingredients such as wild fennel, spot prawns, and figs, and a wine list with an allegiance to the 805, “Barbareño tells the story of this area through its food, service, and design,” says Martinez. Case in point: his reimagining of the childhood favorite Egg McMuffin (originally invented by local Herb Peterson) by way of “cornmeal blinis topped with seascape mousse, smoked prosciutto, and cured egg.”

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THE TOP 5

Dynamic duo Michael Palmer and Eva Ein are the husband-and-wife team behind Santa Barbara’s McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams along with their other businesses (she’s the co-owner of Stella Mare’s and Le Cafe Stella, while Palmer and his partners Matt Dees and Ron Piazza own the cult Sta. Rita Hills wine project Mail Road). Recently, they teamed up with chef Suzanne Goin for a signature ice cream—Alex’s Lemon Chocolate Tart—that was served at Goin’s L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade, the annual event that raises awareness for ALSF and childhood cancer. (Stay tuned for some more collaborations.) Here, the couple spills the beans on their infatuations for 2015. –G.Z.T. SWEET AND HEAT. The trend toward bold, assertive flavors continues. Savory/sweet, spicy/heat combos such as chipotle combined with dark chocolate continue to make inroads. Sriracha and sweet cream ice cream, anyone? SOUR, BITTER, AND TANGY. More and more sour-meets-tangy flavors enter the mix. Asian street food-inspired dishes and flavors are going mainstream.

P H OTO G R A P H : I N D U S T R I A L E AT S , J E F F R E Y B LO O M

MIDDLE EASTERN. Classic Middle Eastern spices like za’atar, cardamom (we just released a cardamom ice cream at McConnell’s!), and sumac are making headway in 2015. SMOKE. In combination with sodas, beer,

and just about everything else, the barbecue popularity of the last several years is not disappearing. We just made an ice cream with a German Rauchbier (the beer’s barley malt is kilned over a beech wood fire prior to fermentation)—the creamy-meets-smoky flavors are intense and incredible. URBAN FORAGING. There are scores of

people devoted to locating, managing, and, uh, liberating the produce of every fruit-bearing tree in a designated urban area. Can you say “Free persimmons at Thanksgiving?”

De La Vina Location 2911 De La Vina St. • Santa Barbara, CA 93105 (805) 682-2600 Mon-Fri, Sat/Sun 11am-9pm

IV Goleta 7024 Market Place Dr. • Goleta, CA 93117 (805) 968-4000 Mon-Fri, Sat/Sun 11am-9pm

Milpas Location 600 N. Milpas St. • Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (805) 564-2626 Mon-Fri 11am-9pm Sat/Sun 9am-9pm

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PHOTOGRAPH: MICHAEL HABER

WEALTH OF WELLNESS Let your natural self radiate with clean living

EDITED BY ANGELIA DE MEISTRE-HAMMER

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BEST OF HEALTH+BEAUTY

EARTH MAMA Though we live in an age driven by technology, we reserve a well of admiration for a particular subset of individuals who take care of, maintain proximity to, and draw creative inspiration from the natural world. Such is the case with Brook Harvey Taylor, CEO and founder of megabrand Pacifica Beauty, pacificabeauty.com.

Having always marched to the beat of her own drum, the Rincon Beach resident fondly recalls instances throughout her young adulthood as indicators of her future life’s work, or what she describes as “what I was destined to do.” She reminisces, “My sister and I grew up on a little ranch in Montana where we grew our own veggies, raised our own meat, and lived really close to nature.” Yet, despite her self-proclaimed granola roots, her original line of essential oil-based perfumes and body-care products (the result of many kitchen experiments and encouragement from her husband), research-based and clinically backed skin-care products, and color cosmetics—all available in major retailers such as Target and Whole Foods—are anything but hippie-chic. Rather, she remarks, “My vision for natural beauty is that it’s for everyone. Not just for people who already want natural products, but for any person who wants a great mascara.” The icing on the cake? She adds, “It’s all free of toxic ingredients.” –A.D.H.

BROOK’S S.B. GO-TOS Fennel in the Machine ($12) from Juice Ranch, 805-845-4657, juiceranch.com. Pacifica’s revolutionary Sea Change Future Youth Serum ($30, pacifica beauty.com). Dr. Dale at Santa Barbara Wellness for Life, 805-687-0533, santabarbara wellnessforlife.com, always gets me back on track. Gluten-free pie from the Solvang Pie Company, 805-688-8948, solvangpieco.com.

Lotion Wipes ($7 each); Stellar Gaze mineral mascara ($14). PHOTOGRAPH: MICHAEL HABER

LEFT TO RIGHT:

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Pink Moment

BELOW: Mix botanic petals with salts to enhance the aroma and benefits.

REAP THE BENEFITS OF HALOTHERAPY

ABOVE: Mullein & Sparrow bath salts, $40.

Salt Lab’s bath and body products.

P H OTO G R A P H : L O W E R R I G H T, J E S S I C A S A M P L E

PHOTOGRAPH: MICHAEL HABER

STEPS BELOW downtown’s De la Guerra and State

street intersection exists Santa Barbara’s Himalayan haven, SALT, 805-963-7258, saltcavesb.com—an otherworldly sanctuary that holds promise of mental respite and physical healing. There, two underground caves and ionic treatment rooms are constructed from pure pink salt rock sourced from the ancient Khewra range in Pakistan’s Punjab province. It’s also North America’s largest halotherapy (salt therapy) center and attracts locals and visitors alike for its natural beauty, remedial spa services, meditation, relaxation classes, and range of bath, body, and food products handmade in the newly opened on-site production house, Salt Lab. –A.D.H. S A N TA B A R B A R A

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FACE to FACE The Silver Pen’s Hollye Jacobs and Gregg Renfrew, founder of cult favorite BEAUTYCOUNTER, share a backyard chat about literally changing the face of the beauty industry with safe, environmentally respectful products.

Gregg Renfrew. Renfrew and Hollye Jacobs share and compare at Jacobs’s Montecito home.

BELOW:

Founded in 2013, Beautycounter, a B Corporation (B Corp is to business what Fair Trade certification is to coffee or USDA Organic certification is to milk), is setting a new standard in the cosmetic and skincare industry by having the most intense ingredient selection process of any company. All products are formulated using the highest safety standards, excluding more than 1,500 harmful ingredients linked to cancer, hormone disruption, reproductive toxicity, and other hazards. Renfrew, a self-described serial entrepreneur—she created the successful bridal registry company The Wedding List, which later sold to Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, and she has consulted on concept, branding, marketing, and merchandising for Bergdorf Goodman, Intermix, and Lela Rose, among others—experienced a personal wakeup call to the dangers of toxic ingredients in the environment after watching the documentary An Inconvenient Truth in 2006. “I spent the last eight years trying to learn

everything I could about the exposure of toxic chemicals, and it was during this personal journey that I became focused on the beauty business,” she says. “I took a look at the industry as a whole and thought there was an enormous opportunity for highly effective products that are safe for your health.” –HOLLYE JACOBS What is the mission of Beautycounter?

We are dedicated to getting safe products into the hands of everyone and are leading a global movement to redefine success in business by voluntarily meeting higher standards of transparency, accountability, and performance. How is this changing the beauty industry?

We are a content-first, disruptive beauty brand. We believe consumers have a right to know what ingredients are in their products. Beautycounter has established new health and safety standards by developing the most health-protective ingredient selection pro-

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“We believe consumers have a right to know what ingredients are in their products. ”

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cess—far ahead of the industry, which has not seen regulation in the United States since 1938. How do you take care of yourself?

I make sure to eat a clean diet that starts with a green smoothie every morning and I take a bath every night to calm down.

HERBAL ESSENCE

GREGG’S MUST DOS

P H OTO G R A P H S : M E G A N S O R E L ; M A K E U P, TO M I KO TA F T

Lunch at the Empty Bowl, 805-335-2426, empty-bowlnoodle.com, in the Santa Barbara Public Market. • Hike the San Ysidro Trail, santabarbarahikes.com. • Have a drink at the San Ysidro Ranch, 805-565-1700, sanysidroranch.com. • Dine at Via Vai, 805-565-9393, viavaisb.com, with the kids. • Shop at Jenni Kayne Home, 805-309-0560, jennykayne.com.

I

n the age of visually driven social media, a new tribe of glam and glowing West Coast “green” gals has emerged, advocating a blurring of the delineation between healthy living and big-brand consumerism. Leading the charge? Actress, yogi, activist, mother, green beauty entrepreneur, and mind behind the aesthetically pleasing website The Local Rose, Shiva Rose. For the multihyphenate though, the conscious decision to live mindfully in response to a devastating auto immune diagnosis was as much a radical venture to regain a sense of well-being as it was a rekindling of her childlike spirit fostered by youthful memories in the countryside of Iran with her parents. She felt a similar pull again, when, after a divorce, she moved with her two young daughters into a home nestled by Santa Monica mountains, where, she says, “growing my own food seemed like the right thing to do” in order to “live in tune with the rhythm of the earth.” On the eve of expanding her own brand of rose-infused natural beauty products—including a pesticide-free facial oil; a rosewood vanilla candle; and an amber, vanilla, and rose-scented Venus body oil—the green guru shares her tried-and-true natural remedies for year-round wellness and favorite spots for balancing her mind, body, and spirit. –A.D.H. NATURAL MEDICINE • Take a daily spoonful of ghee or coconut oil for the skin, hair, and joints.

• Nibble on raw cacao for a mood lift. • Drink rosewater and teas such

as nettle leaf or red clover to balance hormones.

WHERE TO BUY Beautycounter is a direct-retail brand that sells its products through a multichannel distribution platform, including a network of independent consultants, e-commerce, and strategic retail partners including J. Crew and goop.com.

HER OJAI GO-TOs I always make sure to eat at Farmer and the Cook, 805-640-9608, farmerandcook.com, check out Modern Folk, 805-640-0678, modernfolkliving.com, and In the Field, 310-403-4292, inthefieldojai.com, and hike up Matilija Canyon to try to steep in the hot springs if they are open. Shiva Rose Face Oil ($85, thelocal rose.com).

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SUNRISE STRETCH What better way to salute the sun than with an expansive ocean view and a cooling Pacific breeze? Ideally situated in Summerland’s iconic Big Yellow House, the first left coast installment of the highly popularized global yoga collective, Evolation Yoga, 805-770-3436, evolationyogasb.com, offers classes in varying degrees of heat and intensity “to keep you on your toes (not to mention your head, hands, and heels),” says Santa Barbara local and cofounder of Evolation Yoga, Zefea Samson, who, together with her husband, Mark Drost, created the collective. The centers are designed for students wanting to practice heated hatha yoga with meditation—namely the Primary Hot series, which consists of 26 postures and two breathing exercises— in a safe and intimate setting. Classes (from $20) are suitable for all levels of practitioners. Kids on a school break or can’t find a sitter? Age-appropriate, noncompetitive, and playful classes designed for children are also offered at the same times as adult classes. –A.D.H.

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O

To Dye For

ne of the most highly sought-after hairdressers in the business, Gregory Ifergan moved to Los Angeles from France and has since collected an assortment of swoon-worthy clients due to his sharp eye for detail. “When I see a new client I diagnose them— the cut needs to fit her body and face and make her feel good,” he

says. “It has to be perfect.” Now, with José Eber located at the Four Seasons Resort Biltmore, 805-770-3000, fourseasons.com, Ifergan is putting down—and touching up—roots right here in town. “I’m looking forward to the future and seeing what Santa Barbara has to offer.” –C.B. TLC Hair is like a Chanel dress, you have to take care of it. Don’t wash it too often or it fades. CHIC AND SIMPLE For 2015, I would recommend the ponytail with bangs. BLONDE AMBITION Balayage is here to stay, with a lot of blonde, especially a sandy or sable shade. AU NATUREL Get some texture with beachy waves. THE DARK SIDE Try a rich espresso color. Celeb client Michelle Rodriguez

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YOU JOIN OTHER CLUBS BUT YOU BELONG HERE. FOR A LIMITED TIME, RECEIVE 80% OFF ENROLLMENT. SANTA BARBARA ATHLETIC CLUB 520 CASTILLO STREET (805) 966-6147 CATHEDRAL OAKS ATHLETIC CLUB 5800 CATHEDRAL OAKS ROAD (805) 964-7762 • • • • • • •

Pools Hot Tubs Saunas & Steam Rooms Multiple Workout Rooms Open-air Weight Training & Cardio Clay Tennis Courts Juice/Smoothie Bar

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A-List Action

PHOTOGRAPH BY MORGAN MAASSEN

From freediving and ultramarathons to polo, big-wave surfing, and more, discover a deeper sense of adventure

B Y V I J U M AT H E W

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BEST OF SPORTS A PURSUIT FOR PURISTS, freediving strips away the tanks and trappings so one can take a deep breath and enjoy the undersea realm unencumbered. “Every time I go out, I see something that grabs my attention and gives me a story to tell,” says 24-yearold waterman Zack Scott. “It’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced.” Freediving’s local popularity was born during the Great Depression and became a means of subsistence. “People went out and spearfished here during World War II because food stocks were limited,” explains Andy Taylor, owner of Blue Water Hunter, 805-294-0013, located at the harbor. “Folks talk about being so poor that all they ate were lobster and abalone.” The search for seafood is only one focus of the sport. In no-limits freediving, sleddropped divers plummet beyond the scope of conventional scuba, with the current record set at a chilling 831 feet. For shutterbugs, there’s more to see in the shallows, and their silent approach helps capture the moment. But regardless of where the activity takes you, a commitment to caution must run deep. “Nobody really understands the safety aspects unless they take a course or are around someone who is a dedicated freediver,” warns local instructor Iaon Pohlit, 805-259-6928, who leads two-day introductory lessons. After taking the plunge with Pohlit, those ready to fully immerse in the lifestyle can buddy-up with Santa Barbara Freedivers—the group’s meetings are held at 7:30 pm the first Wednesday of each month at Rusty’s Pizza on West Carrillo Street—and set their sights on any of Blue Water Hunter’s chartered trips to the Channel Islands. –V.M. Around town, accessibility makes Mesa Lane, Refugio, and Butterfly Beach hot spots for the sport.

Your Big Break When surf lacks locally, ward off withdrawals with a sure-fire fix about 60 miles north at Jalama Beach, 805-736-6316. Pronounced “halama,” it consistently delivers some of the most sizable sets in the region. And while only more advanced surfers are advised to brave the heavy, cold-water waves and occasional shark sightings, everyone can drop in to the campground’s general store and grind on some tasty Jalama Burgers beachside. –V.M. 120

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PHOTOGRAPHS: TOP: MORGAN MAASSEN; BOTTOM, BRIAN HODGES

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Head

for the

Hills

PHOTOGRAPH: LISA ROMEREIN

When downtown’s din starts closing in, these hikes will heighten your day and broaden your perspective

FRANKLIN TRAIL Though flanked by a rugged ridgeline, Carpinteria long lacked easy access—until now. Opened last year, the 2.15-mile initial phase of the renovated Franklin Trail, franklintrail .org, takes off from the high school on a clear path to the peaks. With plans for it to eventually drop into Los Padres National Forest, there’s hope that another 3.5 miles will materialize next year. TUNNEL TRAIL From the top of Tunnel Road and pavement’s end, this classic climbs approximately 4.5 miles to East Camino Cielo Road. Considered by most hikers and mountain bikers to be the most technically challenging trail in town, its stunning panorama provides welcome distraction. GAVIOTA PEAK Nestled 33 miles north of Santa Barbara and part of Gaviota State Park, 805-968-1033, Gaviota Peak tops out with a gorgeous glimpse of the Pacific. After soaking in the sights, any aches from the roughly 6.5-mile round-trip can be eased with a dip in hot springs before reaching the car. –V.M.

For more directions and descriptions for Tunnel Trail and Gaviota Peak, visit santabarbarahikes.com.

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BEST OF SPORTS

Bucolic Biking SERIOUS CYCLISTS know that Santa Barbara County offers some of the world’s finest biking. Ride routes the pros do with help from The Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort, 805-6867700, alisal.com. The 10,000-acre rustic-chic retreat in the Santa Ynez Valley sets the wheels in motion with a cycling package for two ($1,680) that includes two nights of luxe lodging—with breakfast, lunch, and dinner—spa treatments, jerseys, use of new carbon-fiber Motobecane road bikes, and two guided, customized rides each day. “The top racers in the world either go to Spain or come here to train,” says Alisal cycling guide Eric Larsen. “There are flat roads and grinding hills. I’ve lived here on and off for most of my life and I still find places that just blow my mind.” Currently available September through May, the package also provides horseback riding, tennis, and golf for those who want to slow down the pace. –V.M.

Made of Steel

Even for a triathlete, ZACK BERTGES, zackbertges.com, moves more than most. An Ironman finisher in the United States, Canada, and France, he keeps busy back home as an elite conditioning coach, founder of Santa Barbara Iron Team (a multisport mentorship to empower local youth programs), and host of Coach Z’s Endurance & Strength podcast. When it comes to top contenders for friendly competition and camaraderie in town, here’s who Bertges puts on the podium. –V.M.

MUST DOs

For a Thursday night thrill, the summer race series REEF AND RUN, 805-886-8123, reefandrun.org, offers ocean swims of three different distances with the occasional biathlon to boot. | A touching tribute, the half-mile swim, 16-mile bike, and three-mile run known as KENDRA’S RACE, ucsbtriathlon.net, celebrates the life of late UC Santa Barbara triathlete Kendra Chiota Payne and contributes to her fund designed to fast-track future female athletes. | On September 6, PIER TO PEAK, 805-284-4720, runsantabarbara.com—the half marathon with a mean streak—climbs nearly 4,000 feet from sea level. But a usually sunny inclination and sweet views make it a high point of the summer for many runners. | Those in the know beat the workout plateau at SANTA BARBARA ROCK GYM, 805770-3225, sbrockgym.com, where mind and body gain better balance and fitness goals lie within reach. | Having debuted November 2013 along a 2.2-mile stretch of Cabrillo Boulevard, SB OPEN STREETS, 805-216-1223, sbopenstreets.org, annually paves the way for human-powered play with a car-free block party. This year’s event is on October 25 and it’s far from pedestrian. | For a post-training treat, Santa Barbara Iron Team member chef Renaud Gonthier of RENAUD’S PATISSERIE & BISTRO, 805-569-2400, renaudsbakery.com, dishes out delightful protein and carb combinations as well as the necessary sugars to replenish your reserves.

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BEST OF SPORTS

SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP:

Kids practicing at the Santa Barbara Polo School’s training arena; the tack room; former polo pro/lead instructor John Westley; the club’s stables and ponies.

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Then mount up and bring the Ralph Lauren logo to life at John Westley’s SANTA BARBARA POLO SCHOOL, 805745-5959, sbpoloschool.com. From the indoor arena and tony turf of the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club, former pro John Westley and his wife, Wendy, provide all ages and abilities with a unique equine experience. “I love to introduce people to the complete exhilaration of polo,” says John. “Part of my job is to teach students certain strategic concepts repeatedly. My favorite saying is: ‘If you have to think during a game, you’re already too late.’” It’s been a winning approach for Westley, who’s been instructing since 1999 and coached the Westmont College men’s team to victory in the USPA National Intercollegiate Championship for the last two years. Along with a collegiate/scholastic polo program—made up of youth from local schools—the couple’s other offerings include kids and adult private or group lessons as well as corporate events for every level. The school provides the horse of course, and everything else needed to reign in the fun. –V.M.

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BEST OF SPORTS ON THE RUN

F

or those who find marathons mundane, kick it up a notch with the Santa Barbara Nine Trails 35 Mile Endurance Run, 805-4482782, allwedoisrun.com, which takes long-distance devotees on a pilgrimage that connects our front country’s finest trails. “It’s brutal,” says event organizer Luis Escobar of the arduous tradition that started in 1990. “It was the dream and design of local athlete Patsy Dorsey, who decided to string trails together from Jesusita to Romero Canyon.” An über-ultramarathoner himself, Escobar—fourtime finisher of the Badwater 135 from Death Valley to Mount Whitney and seven-time finisher of the Western States 100—has run Nine Trails annually since its inception and took over organization in 2004. From its start at the Cater Water Treatment Plant on San Roque Road, the serpentine course cuts to the trailhead at Romero and back with water stations nearly every seven miles along the way. Tempted to try? “I would recommend having at least two or three marathons under your belt before you show up,” warns Escobar. But if the shoe fits, save the date for March 28 when the race runs again. –V.M.

At 5’8’’ and 130 pounds, 31-year-old Chris Clemens seems built for speed. It’s no surprise then that his dedication to distance running sprang from his experience hiking the entire 2,184-mile Appalachian Trail in 136 days. “I figured that if I could walk more than 30 miles a day with a heavy backpack, I should be able to run the same or more without one.” With a race résumé that includes 15 ultramarathons—between 35 and 100 miles each—in the last two years, Clemens considers the Santa Barbara Nine Trails 35 Mile Endurance Run among the most demanding. “With very few flats to relax on,” he says, “it’s almost as tough as my 100-miler.” –V.M.

Did You Know? Working well

ON THE BRINK OF A RINK Have

hopes of local ice skating long melted? Chill out. Building has begun on ICE IN PARADISE, 805-8791550, iceinparadise.org, by Goleta’s Girsh Park. The 46,500square-foot center—with dedicated rinks for both hockey and recreational use—may open as early as this September. –V.M. 126

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with others comes naturally for famed figure skater TAI BABILONIA. A gold medalist with partner Randy Gardner in the 1976 World Championships, the two carved household names for themselves internationally and became Olympic favorites. These days, she shares the spotlight as cohost of local talk show Ken Boxer Live. “I was a guest last year, and knew I wanted to be a part of it,” says Babilonia, who was hired the next day. “I’m so grateful to Ken for believing in me. I love to chat and learn about people and I get to do it in one of my favorite places in the world.” For more tidbits on Babilonia, fans can follow her on Twitter at @taiskates. –V.M.

P H OTO G R A P H S : TO P, L U I S E S C O B A R

O N E T O WAT C H

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WANDER LAND Where to go and what to do with your little ones

The “JELLIES & friends” exhibition at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center.

BY JENNIFER BLAISE KRAMER

P H OTO G R A P H BY J E S S I C A SA M P L E

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BEST OF KIDS

Under the Sea

On April 23, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center, 805-962-2526, sbnature.org, celebrates its 10th anniver-

sary, offering everyone free admission in honor of Earth Day. In addition, the annual Garibaldi Ball is taking place on March 6. The Sea Center has been CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The busy for months prepping its shark touch pool with swell sharks; new exhibits, enhancing bat stars and a white spotted the live shark encounters, and rose sea anemone in the Intertidal creating more ways for visitors Wonders touch tank. to have a real hands-on experience with everything underneath Santa Barbara’s coastal waters. –J.B.K.

A newborn Buttercup at the Santa Barbara Zoo.

Meet Buttercup, the cutest addition to the Santa Barbara Zoo, 805962-5339, sbzoo.org. The baby boy Masai giraffe calf was born November 13, measuring 6’8” tall and weighing in at 186 pounds. We look forward to watching this little guy grow—and meeting the next calf due in March! –J.B.K.

Board Games

Get ’em outside on wheels early with the help of Powell Peralta, 805-845-7580, powell-peralta.com. The owners of this local skate shop have been outfitting new and young skateboarders since 1978 and carry mini and kid-size boards with neon wheels and all the add-ons. Plus, there’s plenty more to grow into over the years if they get hooked. –J.B.K. 130

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P H OTO G R A P H S : S E A C E N T E R A N D P O W E L L P E R A LTA , J E S S I C A S A M P L E

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BEST OF KIDS

Take the Cake Meet the pros who turn birthday parties up a notch

WHETHER YOUR STYLE is more DIY or hire it out, Carpinteria’s Bon Fortune offers everything from free advice to full-service

party planning. “The key to a successful party is that it’s both fun for the children and memorable and appealing to the parents,” says store owner Gina Andrews. An expert at planning parties for all ages, Andrews has found a niche giving classic themes an unexpected twist. For this backyard affair, rather than doing the typical red and yellow circus (which can read cartoonish) Andrews and the birthday girl’s parents took a classic carousel as the inspiration point and tweaked the colors to softer, more sophisticated shades of red, pink, white, gold, and silver. Next, they brought in food carts offering old-fashioned lemonade, hot dogs, and pretzels, and served vintage poster cookies and a carousel cake from Solvang Bakery. A mini big top, tents, and striped stools gave the parents a place to sit and have a glass of champagne or a beer while a crafts table and circus act entertained the kids with juggling, stilts, and a clown. Each child took home a custom favor box with a keepsake vintage carousel charm necklace. Making a party memorable and cohesive can be tricky, which is why Andrews opened her storefront to offer it all—25 cent novelty items, large-scale rentals, and plenty of hand-holding and brainstorming to really get people thinking outside the box during the planning process. For example, the pirate and mermaid themes may be overdone, but “Neverland” is not, and with a slight shifting from the traditional red and black palette to pastels, Andrews can create a whole new party, guiding the hosts with ideas, props, and rentals to complete the look on a budget. “You might not be in the mood to buy a $200 treasure chest, so rent one for $30,” she suggests. “We want to be accessible to everyone and have all the resources for everything from a simple backyard gathering to an amazing set.” –J.B.K.

PARTY BLACK BOOK PARTY PLANNING, DECOR, AND FAVORS

Bon Fortune, 805-220-6600, bonfortune.com. VINTAGE PROPS Milk and Honey Farm, 805-

687-4456, eventsbymilkandhoneyfarm.com. FOOD CARTS Let’s Have a Cart Party,

310-578-2278, letshaveacartparty.com. CAKE Solvang Bakery, 805-688-4939, solvangbakery.com. FERRIS WHEEL CONFECTIONS Candy Cart

Heaven, 805-689-8287, candycartheaven.com. BIG TOP AND TENT RENTALS Fire & Creme,

310-302-9293, fireandcreme.com. MUSIC Yellow Bird Music, 805-898-9070, yellowbirdmusic.com. CIRCUS IN A SUITCASE Chris Grabher, 917-

689-0517. P H OTO G R A P H S BY I SA AC H E R N A N D E Z 132

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MENU Circus Snacks Old-Fashioned Lemonade Hot Dogs Soft Pretzels Ferris Wheel Candy Vintage Circus Poster Cookies Carousel Cake

C LO C KWIS E F R O M O P P OS IT E UP P E R L E F T :

A guest enjoying cotton candy; a candy display; stilt walkers; the carousel cake by Solvang Bakery; a old-fashioned-style pretzel cart; Yellow Bird Music provided entertainment; some Bon Fortune decor details; the backyard fete; party favors for the little girls.

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BEST OF KIDS MADE WITH LOVE

These handcrafted booties are the latest from Emily Rosendahl Leather Goods, erleathergoods.com. Known for her rustic leather clutches and handbags, the designer lined these beauties ($48) in suede to keep our babes warm by the beach. -J.B.K.

JUST LIKE MOM AND DAD A Montecito modern staple

for boys and girls from toddlers to tweens, Dani Boy, 805-770-3155, daniboykids.com, offers pint-size trends by labels such as Cupcakes and Pastries (pictured), Tru Love, La Miniatura, and Frye. Stock up on graphic tees, cool kicks, and fun accessories. –J.B.K.

ALL IN THE FAMILY

Donald Robertson,

@donalddrawbertson, has earned a cult following on Instagram with his fanciful and fun fashion illustrations. Bring home your own with the colorful Crewcuts kisses tee ($39.50), drawn exclusively for J. Crew, 805563-0373, jcrew.com, and upcoming children’s book Mitford and the Fashion Zoo (Viking)—inspired by Robertson’s drawing of Vogue editorin-chief Anna Wintour seated at her desk with a glasseswearing giraffe. The book, out this fall, follows the adventures of Mitford, the sartorial interngiraffe and his fabulous and famous friends. –CHARLOTTE BRYANT 134

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Custom-made Pacific Wonderland kids rocking chair (from $550) and tepee (from $300).

PHOTOGRAPHS: BOOTIES, ROB DAFOE; IN THE FIELD, NANCY NEIL

WILD ONES

Pairing bohemian cool with hip interior design, Ojai’s new lifestyle boutique, IN THE FIELD, 310-403-4292, inthefield ojai.com, is all about mindful products. Owners and parents Channon and Bianca Roe are diligent about sourcing their dreamy, outdoorinspired picks for kids. –J.B.K.

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Best Bets

WHERE TO SHOP WHEN YOU NEED THAT MINI LITTLE SOMETHING

For the ultimate selection of kids’ gear, games, toys, and clothing, head straight to Chicken Little, 805962-7771, chicken little kids.com. You may lose your little ones temporarily in the winding array of goods piled high, but chances are you’ll find everything elseyou’re looking for.

ConneCting you with nature

In the upper village, Upstairs at Pierre Lafond, 805-565-1502, upstairsatpierre lafond.com, has a charming selection of baby clothes, gifts, books, and toys. Recently added: hand-stitched “rag” dolls made from vintage cashmere sweaters.

PHOTOGRAPHS: BOOTIES, ROB DAFOE; IN THE FIELD, NANCY NEIL

Curious Cup Bookstore, curiouscup.com,

on Santa Claus Lane carries Carpinteriabased writer Megan Waldrep’s charming children’s book Spice & Little Sugar ($14.99). She wrote it with coauthor Melissa Nelson as a “playful homage” to their younger siblings. All sisters will relate to the ups and downs that the darlings of the book go through together. In the back of K. Frank, 805-560-7424, kfrankstyle.com, is a charming kids section with European and American lines such as Lily & MoMo, Esme, and more. Beautiful dresses and rain boots mingle with well made baby toys and art supplies. Don’t miss the sweet jewelry selection for young girls. –J.B.K.

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CULTURE CLASH Big-time art in a small town—the lowdown on Santa Barbara’s thriving art scene

BY L.D. PORTER

Gerald Incandela’s Untitled 2014, silver print, 24 x 20 in. 137

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BEST OF ART

INCANDESCENT INNOVATOR

“I like to provoke,” says GERALD INCANDELA, gerald incandela.com, “to make people think.” Right now, the Tunisian-born artist himself is on many people’s minds, thanks to a fascinating book by author/art critic Philip Gefter about legendary photography collector Sam Wagstaff (see “Photo Fighter” below), who almost single-handedly forced the world to acknowledge photography as a legitimate art form. Wagstaff was an early collector of Incandela’s gestural images, recognizing the artist’s prodigious talent as well as his groundbreaking photographic technique. “In the 1970s, curators and collectors responded to Incandela’s work because he was doing something completely new,” says Gefter. “No one before had exposed photographic images onto paper and then applied developer with a brush. His pictures seemed to hover between photography and drawing, the mechanical and the handmade, the literal and the interpretive.” Ever the provocateur, Incandela continues to produce and exhibit his work internationally, splitting his time between Santa Barbara and Connecticut. –L.D.P.

The darkroom of Gerald Incandela’s Summerland studio.

“Being born on the Mediterranean, Santa Barbara is as close as it gets to making me feel at home and close to my core. If you are into ‘living’ as an art form, the climate here is the perfect canvas for it. It’s a city that always seems fresh, like a work in progress. It’s a city that invites you to enter its life and participate in its ongoing creation.”

PHOTO FIGHTER The art world has always embraced controversy, and in modern times, one of the biggest debates was photography’s status as a legitimate art form. Philip Gefter’s Wagstaff: Before and After Mapplethorpe (2014, Liveright), reveals the issue was largely put to rest by the efforts of Sam Wagstaff, who avidly collected photographs dating from the 19th century—when the first fixed images appeared—through the last half of the 20th century, and whose collection eventually formed the core of the J. Paul Getty Museum’s eminent photography holdings. Wagstaff was also the enthusiastic patron of several artists, notably infamous lensman Robert Mapplethorpe and Gerald Incandela. In fact, an entire chapter of Gefter’s book is devoted to Incandela, whose sought-after work is included in numerous public collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the J. Paul Getty Museum, and the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. –L.D.P.

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©HILARY BRACE 2014 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

program director at the MUSIC ACADEMY OF THE WEST, 805-969-4726, musicacademy .org; Larry J. Feinberg, director of the SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF ART, 805-963-4364, sbmuseart.org; Roger Durling, executive director of the SANTA BARBARA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, 805-963-0023, sbiff.org; and to the strong patronage and support of the community, Santa Barbara is a center of sophisticated creative and intellectual life.

PHOTOGRAPH: GERALD INCANDELA, LISA ROMEREIN

GERALD’S GO-TOS Thanks to the visionary work of people like Marilyn Horne, voice


©HILARY BRACE 2014 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

PHOTOGRAPH: GERALD INCANDELA, LISA ROMEREIN

SHADES OF GRAY Good artists makes us look, great artists makes us see. Hilary Brace, hilarybrace .com, does both. Meticulously rendered in charcoal, her drawings depict sublime landscapes of cascading waterfalls and celestial cloud formations that demand careful inspection and reward with staggering beauty. Surprisingly, the depicted settings are entirely fictional: “When I compose an image, I work without premeditation, beginning with only a vague suggestion, so the places I make often surprise me,” says the Santa Barbara-based artist, whose work resides in numerous private and public collections, including the Santa Barbara Museum of Art and is represented by Craig Krull Gallery in Los Angeles. The artist also sells scarves and pillow shams bearing images of her drawings via her website, yourheadintheclouds.com. –L.D.P.

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Untitled (February 2014), charcoal on polyester film, 10.625 x 8.5 in.

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BEST OF ART O N E S T O WAT C H

M

IXING WINE AND ART IS A GOOD IDEA, but mixing winemaker Dave Potter and artist Stephanie Dotson, stephaniedotson.com, is a great idea. He owns and runs Municipal Winemakers, municipalwine makers.com, a mandatory stop on Santa Barbara’s Urban Wine Trail; she’s a Santa Barbara City College art professor whose work has been shown nationwide. Both have cool pedigrees: Dotson spent her early art-making days designing custom posters for rock bands—R.E.M., Green Day—while earning her MFA in printmaking; Potter extended his college graduation surfing trip to Australia long enough to earn a master’s in viticulture and oenology. The latest addition to their inspired mix is 17-month-old son Oscar. –L.D.P.

TRENDING Artist-run collectives and curatorial projects where artists do things not for their own profit but to provide opportunities to share cool stuff.

Potter and Dotson at the Municipal tasting room with one of her rug works hanging on the wall.

PITCHER PERFECT No artist captures the ethos of Santa Barbara better than Hank Pitcher, hankpitcher.com. His deceptively straightforward paintings of people and places belie a prodigious technique and astute mastery of light and color reminiscent of Edward Hopper, while his archetypal portraits of surfboards—heraldic emblems of youthful vigor—reveal a keen understanding of contemporary art tropes: “In his iconic surfboard paintings, one can hear the echo of Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup Cans,” one art critic has observed of Pitcher, who created the iconic Sexwax surfboard wax logo in the early 1970s. A core member of UC Santa Barbara’s College of Creative Studies faculty since 1971, Pitcher inspires students as well as collectors. His work is represented locally by Sullivan Goss—An American Gallery. –L.D.P. LEFT: Pitcher’s Brom Fish, oil on canvas, 24 x 12 in. RIGHT: Bezuidenhout’s Ceylon and the Starry Night, acrylic on canvas, 48 x 48 in. “Ceylon is a horse I rode 200 miles across the Namib desert,” she says.

FORCE OF NATURE

“It was like being struck by lightning,” says Karen Bezuidenhout, karen bezuidenhout.com, of her desire to begin painting after attending an art show in her native South Africa. “I just knew with every fiber of my being that I had to paint.” That was 17 years ago; since then, her paintings have been exhibited in numerous art galleries, featured on the cover of Robert Redford’s Sundance catalog, and collected by art aficionados around the world. Bezuidenhout, who splits her time between Stellenbosch and Santa Barbara, has a story to tell about each of her paintings. –L.D.P. 140

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BEST OF MUSIC

Ones to Listen To THE KINDS

LITTLE BIG HERE

Fronted by Khasy Modisette— a self-taught musician since the age of 13—The Kinds like to joke that they’ve been on an in-town tour for the past five years. Aside from that Hipnic V gig in Big Sur, this indie folk rock quartet stays put, as they all have families, day jobs, and notable side projects. West Coast touring remains in the conversation, of course, but in the meantime, you’ll appreciate their cohesive foundation forged at Muddy Waters, SOhO, and in the family living room. “I feel very fortunate to be able to really sing my songs the way I wrote them,” says Modisette, “and to have such incredible musicianship, professionalism and camaraderie in my band.” Check facebook.com/ thekindsmusic for upcoming shows. –K.H.

With heart-pumping musical genes passed down by The Lennon Sisters and Kipp Lennon’s band, Venice, Ojai’s Vaughn Montgomery sings and plays across 13 folk tracks—all of which, of course, can be streamed for free—off his debut Small Goals album. But better yet, check him out live, especially if his 4-yearold son is sitting in on a set. –K.H. Montgomery organizes Ojai’s monthly Folk Steady concerts.

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PHOTOGRAPHS: MEXICO CITY BLONDES, EUGENIA LOLI

MCB’s “Fade”—dubbed a swooning, desert ballad—garnered high praise last summer as the duet’s debut single. They followed up with “Colors,” (which eclipsed its predecessor) and are fine-tuning two more singles for early 2015 for a buildup of West Coast tour dates. Not a bad pace for the 30-somethings, who started recording together in 2013. “It was basically a side project,” says Greg Doscher, who found Allie Thompson through a Craigslist singer search. He had played in a rock band, and she was raised on American folk. Together, he says, they’ve been able to “work with different kinds of electronic textures.” –K.H. BEST OF 2015

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BEST OF MUSIC

Ones to Listen To DARK WAVES

Born-and-raised Santa Barbaran Ruben Zarate—who studied drums at Mike’s Drum Shop for five years before teaching himself guitar and piano in high school—has fronted the indie surf rock quartet DANTE ELEPHANTE since its Craigslist-facilitated 2010 inception. They graduated from Isla Vista backyards to downtown venues and a couple DIY West Coast tours. With a vinyl seven-inch and an EP already on their discography—plus promo pieces for Converse, Billabong Women, and Latina magazine—the band recently released its first full-length record, German Aquatics. –K.H.

Dante Elephante’s German Aquatics.

ERIK & MADELEINE THIS DUET COUPLE met in high school and started busking

on State Street before refining their playlist for indoor audiences. Madeleine Meyer started choir when she was 4, and Erik Ireland Olsen—son of model Kathy Ireland—took up drums around the same age before switching to piano and guitar. To keep up with Madeleine vocally, Erik took voice lessons with Gary Catona, whose celebrity clients have included Whitney Houston and Tony Bennet. They released their debut EP, simply titled E&M, back in September and it debuted at 73 on the iTunes pop chart. They’re on the hunt for a manager to help produce their next album, slated for spring 2015. –K.H. 146

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Frontman Nick Long is a Santa Barbara boy who— like many musicians really onto something—moved his indie-pop outfit to Los Angeles a few years ago. They dropped an EP in October; its debut single “The Heart Beat The Soul” streamed in the millions, and the followup, “I Don’t Wanna Be In Love,” found its way onto an episode of The Vampire Diaries. Diehards don’t hesitate to head south to catch a Dark Waves show, but they also take comfort in the fact that Long revisits Santa Barbara a couple times a year to remind his original fan base how much they miss him. –K.H.

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A few clicks to the right of KCSB, you’ll tune in to KDB 93.7 FM, kdb.com, Santa Barbara’s only station dedicated full-time to classical music, and for some 30 weeks each year, on Saturday evenings, it broadcasts live concerts by the Music Academy of the West, Santa Barbara Symphony, and the Santa Barbara Opera. –K.H.

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His grandfather played trumpet for Stan Kenton. His mother played piano and collected LPs by The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, and Elton John. Growing up, Santa Barbara-born Alastair Greene took piano and sax lessons before picking up a guitar. After studying at Berklee College of Music, he returned to Southern California to gig with blues and rock giants. “Greene’s an outstanding guitarist,” says Steve Daniels, president of the Santa Barbara Blues Society. “And his new CD Trouble At Your Door has garnered national attention.” On deck for 2015; more touring with Alan Parsons and perhaps a jump back in the studio to work on a new release. In the meantime, catch him on Thursday nights at The James Joyce. –K.H.

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BEST OF MUSIC

VENUES THE ARLINGTON THEATRE 805-963-4408, thearlingtontheatre

THE GRANADA THEATRE

.com. A full-time movie theatre that also hosts big-time bands (Beck, Ryan Adams, Chrissie Hynde, et. al.), this massive venue showcases an indoor village facade, a 320-seat balcony, and plenty of patio room for special events. Indie folk rockers The Avett Brothers take the stage on February 10. CAMPBELL HALL UC Santa Barbara campus, 805-893-3535, arts

andlectures.sa.ucsb.edu. Much like downtown’s bigger, illustrious music theaters, this UCSB venue draws a variety of elite musicians from around the globe. Freedom fighters Hugh Masekela and Vusi Mahlasela come together on March 13 to honor 20 years of South African democracy. COLD SPRING TAVERN 805-967-0066, coldspringtavern.com.

Regulars contend one should never depart their Earth-bound existence without passing at least one sunny weekend afternoon enjoying the dappled shade outside this rustic meat-and-music mecca. If tri-tip sandwiches, cold ones, and no-cover blues bands— Tom Ball and Kenny Sultan are the Sunday staple—sound appealing, this backcountry tavern is a mandatory stopover. FOLK STEADY Ojai Rancho Inn, 805-646-1434, ojairanchoinn.com. Since the summer of 2013, Little Big Here frontman Vaughn Montgomery (with a big assist from Taylor Fulton) has curated this afternoon hootenanny comprised of some of the region’s finest musicians, from Ojai’s Todd Hannigan, Aaron Embry, and members of the Lennon family, to regular visits by Santa Barbara’s Johnny McCann and Jim Connelly. Bring the kids, have a picnic, and drop a donation in the box. Shows take place every first Sunday of the month, starting in the spring, weather permitting. FUNZONE 805-962-6666, facebook.com/funzonesantabarbara. Hosted by East Beach Batting Cages, this DIY venue is an all-ages hotspot for local and visiting bands and fans. “It’s really cool to see a small business allow this kind of thing to happen and provide the space,” says Moss Jacobs with the New Noise Music Foundation, which shares the FUNZONE’s mission to provide young artists opportunities to perform and hang out in a drug and alcohol-free spot. “It definitely helps the local music scene and the Milpas corridor.” THE MAJESTIC VENTURA THEATER

THE NEW VIC

THE GRANADA THEATRE 805-899-2222, granadasb.org. Still basking in the golden afterglow of a restoration spearheaded by the Santa Barbara Center for the Performing Arts, this 1,550-seat venue is the home to Santa Barbara Symphony, Santa Barbara Choral Society, and the State Street Ballet. It also hosts a yearlong concert series, with class acts visiting on a monthly basis. On March 22, jazz royalty Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea take the stage for a rare, historic duet. HAHN HALL Music Academy of the West, 805-969-4726, musicacademy.org. Three

hundred and fifty seats with plenty of legroom under an acoustically engineered ceiling make this a great room for listening to great music, such as Camerata Pacfica. This core of principal musicians are joined by stellar guest artists from THE SANTA 148 S A N T A BARBARA BOWL

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around the world to cover Bach, Wagner, Brahms, and other greats. Monthy performances booked through May. LOBERO THEATRE 805-963-0761, lobero.com. This original Old Spanish Days party house has been drawing world-renowned acts for decades, from Ingrid Bergman and Igor Stravinsky to Dave Brubeck and Dizzy Gillespie. On June 27, Sings Like Hell presents Grammy-nominated John Fullbright with special guests Kevin Welch and Dustin Welch. THE MAJESTIC VENTURA THEATER 805-6530721, venturatheater.net. Arguably the best indoor venue between Los Angeles and San Francisco, this 1920s-era Mission-style music magnet hosts a 1,200-head capacity for class acts from around the globe. Don’t miss Willie Nelson & Family on February 4. Over the past six decades, this iconic Texan has put out more than 200 albums. NEW VIC 805-965-5400, ensembletheatre.com. Home to the Ensemble Theatre Company of Santa Barbara, this recently modernized 300-seat theatre also hosts a heavy rotation of lectures, films, ballets, and, of course, live music. Check its online calendar for updates. SANTA BARBARA BOWL 805-962-7411,

sbbowl.com. This fabled 79-year-old outdoor venue draws the biggest names in international concert touring—from Lorde to James Taylor— while hosting local music acts and charitable events. The third annual Dia de los Muertos blowout will be back on Halloween weekend, “bigger and better than ever,” says curator Nicole Alejandra Pierpont. The first concerts booked this year are alt-J on April 14, Steely Dan on April 15, and Diana Krall on August 30. SOHO RESTAURANT AND MUSIC CLUB 805-

962-7776, sohosb.com. The only spot in town that can claim live music seven nights a week, from touring greats to local talent. On February 22, get up close and personal with Wild Child, the roadwarrior sextet out of Austin, Texas. VELVET JONES 805-965-8676, velvet-jones

.com. This club/restaurant/bar opened its doors to the heart of the downtown nightlife back in 2000 and has since served up a heavy platter, from 18-and-up college-night DJ parties, to the Foo Fighters and Dinosaur Jr. Check the show calendar online. –K.H. 00

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BEST OF GETAWAYS

Ask the Concierge… FOR AN INSIDER’S TIPS ON ENJOYING A SANTA BARBARA SOJOURN

in the comfort of the hotel with the Foley Food + Wine Society Tasting Room. Sample 50 wines from the Foley family of wineries in an elegant rustic setting. His favorite? The Altvs Cabernet Sauvignon. Then learn the art of sabrage—using a saber to slice open a champagne bottle—with an appointment at Coast 2 Coast Collection, 805-845-7888, c2c collection.com. And don’t miss the live music with drinks and light bites at the Piano Riviera Lounge, 805-882-0050, sbpiano.com.

Belmond El Encanto

For top things to do at BELMOND EL ENCANTO, 805-845-5800, belmond.com/ el-encanto-santa-barbara, the concierge recommends a romantic meal inside the resort’s intimate Wine Room, with a custom menu of California coastal cuisine by execu-

tive chef Leo Andres Ayala. Beyond the grounds, guests can also enjoy a horseback ride on Santa Barbara’s beaches or on a stunning local trail with Los Padres Outfitters, 805-331-5252, lospadresoutfitters.com. To soothe any sore muscles, or just get rid of day-to-day tension, there are Lotus Wei-infused spa treatments, notably the Bamboo Charcoal Wheatgrass Body Wrap, followed by a scrub and relaxing massage. At the FOUR SEASONS RESORT BILTMORE, 805-969-2261, four seasonsresort.com/santabarbara, concierge Elyse Gensolin says it’s fun to rent a beach cruiser from the resort and take a scenic ride along Channel Drive and Cabrillo Boulevard all the way to the Funk Zone. You can begin your day with a private yoga or personal training session at the Four Seasons Spa. Guests can also sharpen their sports skills with great local athletes: hone volleyball moves with two-time Olympian gold medalist Todd Rogers or learn to catch a wave with surfing legend Tom Curren. The downtown location of the CANARY HOTEL, 805-884-0300, canary santabarbara.com, adds an extra dimension to great things to do, says the hotel’s concierge, beginning with taking in the unrivaled Santa Barbara panorama from the rooftop deck and pool. In warm-weather months, it’s also a place to enjoy a drink or a nibble. Inside, at the Finch & Fork restaurant, the signature Manhattan adds an urban vibe and perfectly complements chef James Siao’s salt and pepper chicken wings. Only steps away are the entertainment offerings of the Cultural District’s historic theaters—the Granada, 805-899-2222, granadasb.org, the Arlington, 805-963-4408, thearlingtontheatre.com, the Lobero, 805-966-4946, lobero.com, and the New Vic, 805-965-5400, ensembletheatre.com. The concierge at the OJAI VALLEY INN & SPA, 855-591-1802, ojai resort.com, points to the town’s long connection to mental, physical, and spiritual wellness and notes that intuitive and healer Renata Hume The San Hotel TKYsidro Ranch provides personal Mandala sessions for guests, a process meant to illuminate one’s purpose and direction. For inspiration from nature, you can explore Ojai’s history, native plants, wildlife and environment with Cloud Climbers Jeep Tours, 805-646-3200, ccjeeps.com. The inn’s own greens are just the right spot for night golf, with a special tribute to the legendary flamboyant pro golfer Jimmy Demaret.

Four Seasons Resort Biltmore Ojai Valley Inn & Spa

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Vanessa Kolk of guest services at the SAN YSIDRO RANCH, 805-5651700, sanysidroranch.com, suggests a round of golf at Sandpiper Golf Club, 805-9681541, sandpipergolf.com, a championship 18-hole, 72-par course, where ocean-front fairways vie with views of the Santa Ynez range for spectacular panoramas. Follow that with the Ranch Signature Massage, one of the in-cottage spa treatments for the ultimate stress relief. Then cap off the day with dinner at The Stonehouse restaurant, where executive chef Matthew Johnson’s classic American cuisine is complimented by organic produce from the ranch’s own garden. –JOAN TAPPER

PHOTOGRAPHS: BELMOND EL ENCANTO, LEELA CYD

Ryan Perez-Carrillo, concierge at the BACARA RESORT & SPA, 855968-0100, bacararesort.com, suggests getting a taste of wine country

Canary Hotel S A N TA B A R B A R A

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BEST OF GETAWAYS

Quick Escape...Los Angeles HEADING SOUTH With a recent influx of indie restaurateurs, creatives and entrepreneurs, and a reimagining and erection of So-Cal-inspired design houses, the heart of Los Angeles awaits with a glittering bevy of sumptuous accommodations, delectable restaurants, scintillating nightlife, and high-line luxury. The breezy alfresco interior and roof top pool of the 285-room FOUR SEASONS HOTEL LOS ANGELES AT BEVERLY HILLS, 310-273-2222, fourseasons.com, offers welcomed reprieve to shoppers and Hollywood execs alike. Weary weekenders revel in Mediterranean-inspired luxury and 500-thread count Egyptian sheets at one of 55 suites at the five-star 201-room MONTAGE BEVERLY HILLS, 310-499-4199, montagehotels.com, and take advantage of the Spa Montage with a signature hammam Vichy ritual or get red-carpet-ready with a Kerstin Florian illuminating body treatment. Hiding from the paparazzi? Take refuge at locals’ best-kept secret, boutique hotel and former residence of Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, L’ERMITAGE, 310-278-3344, viceroyhotelsandresorts.com.

STAY

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT :

A testing ground for the latest in Angeleno health trends and foodie culture is GRACIAS MADRE, 323-978-2170, graciasmadreweho .com, a study in richly flavored vegan Mexican cuisine and cocktails featuring sustainable, organic, and seasonal produce (think gorditas with potato-masa cakes, warm salsa verde, and cashew crema with a seasonal Sangria de Temporada). Cap off an afternoon at the freshly renovated FREDS AT BARNEYS, 310-777-5877, barneys.com; beat the 3 pm crash at cozy underground Melrose Place cult fave ALFRED COFFEE, 323-944-0811, alfredcoffee.com; or heed a taste for the finer things in life with a pick-me-up caviar sampler at afternoon hot spot PETROSSIAN, 310-271-6300, petrossian.com. With an intimate 25-seat space in Beverly Hills, Curtis Stone’s first stateside restaurant and passion project, MAUDE, 310-859-3418, mauderestaurant.com, lets flavor take center stage with a menu of nine tasting plates that he asserts are never “modern or overwrought” and feature a single monthly ingredient. Step back in time and bask in the amber glow of David Koral’s midcentury styled speakeasy THE NICE GUY, 310-360-9500, theniceguyla.com.

The spa at the Montage; a look from Gucci; the Four Seasons; Freds at Barneys.

EAT & DRINK

With three stories and a top floor dressing salon fashioned after Hedi Slimane’s own L.A. home, Rodeo’s SAINT LAURENT, 310-271-4110, ysl.com, epitomizes the brand’s penchant for rich materials, crisp lines, and craftsmanship with marble and high polished metal accents. Equally visually stunning, GUCCI, 310-278-3451, gucci.com, rings in its new “Golden Era” with the reopening of its 22,000-square-foot Rodeo flagship, which pays homage to its rich Italian history with dark rosewood accents juxtaposed with modern smoked glass and mirror glamour. A one-stop shop, the architectural interior of BARNEYS NEW YORK, 310-777-5877, barneys.com, is a marvel in and of itself, save for the luxury threads, accessory lines, and cult beauty brands the store carries. Also a 90210 mainstay, the PERRIN PARIS, 310-786-9936, perrinparis.com, outfits Angelenos with coutureworthy clutches in a myriad of rainbow shades and sacs de plage fit for St. Tropez or a Butterfly Beach jaunt. –ANGELIA DE MEISTRE-HAMMER SHOP

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BEST OF GETAWAYS

Quick Escape...Los Alamos HEADING NORTH

Once the very definition of off the beaten path, thanks to some surprising restaurants and wine tasting venues—and an inviting (if rather short) Old West-style main street—these days the little town is very much worth the trip. Things liven up around the weekends… and especially on Third Saturdays, when everyone turns out for an open-air party. Victoriana rules in the 14 rooms of the 1880 UNION HOTEL, 805-344-2744, union hotelvictmansion.com, which dates back to 1880. At the ALAMO MOTEL, 805-344-2852, rememberthealamomotel.com (the newest member of the retro chic Shelter Social Club), Georgia O’Keeffe is the inspiration for the exterior, landscaping, and ongoing room renovation. For a town vista, head up to the SKYVIEW MOTEL, 805-344-3770, theskyviewhotel .com, whose recently added patrons-only wine lounge is a harbinger of things to come. Fresh, local, and sophisticated are the watchwords at cozy BELL STREET FARM EATERY & MARKET, 805-344-4609, bellstreetfarm.com, where the menu includes sandwiches, salads, and rotisserie chicken. On weekends, FULL OF LIFE FLATBREAD, 805-344-4400, fulloflifefoods.com, becomes a showcase for chef Clark Staub’s culinary flair—everything from signature flatbreads to salads and stews. Attached to an art gallery in a historic general store, CAFÉ QUACKENBUSH, 805-344-5181, generalstoreca.com, serves up pastries as well as breakfast and lunch indoors or on its patio. New on the scene is MUNICIPAL WINEMAKERS, 805-931-6864, municipalwinemakers.com, on the grounds of the Alamo Motel. Actor Kurt Russell showcases his GoGi label as well as Hudson-Bellamy and Ampelos vintages at the Union Hotel’s WINE SALOON, 805-344-2744, unionhotelvictmansion.com/ food--saloon.htm. You can taste winemaker Sonja Magdevski’s offerings at CASA DUMETZ WINES, 804-344-1900, casadumetzwines.com; next door her partner, Emilio Estevez, can sometimes be found serving up craft brews at BABI’S BEER EMPORIUM, 805-344-1911. BEDFORD WINERY’s tasting room, 805-3442107, bedfordwinery.com, opens to a patio for open-air sipping. EAT & DRINK

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP : The 1880 Union Hotel; Casa Dumetz; the Alamo Motel; Bell Street Farm’s Jamie Gluck.

To while away the hours hunting for antiques and collectibles, try GUSSIED UP ANTIQUES, 805-344-2504, gussiedupantiques.com, or THE GENTLEMAN FARMER, 805-344-4111, thegentlemanfarmer.net. –JOAN TAPPER

SHOP

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PHOTOGRAPHS: 1880 UNION HOTEL, NANCY NEIL; JAMIE GLUCK, MEGAN SOREL

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Seabourn features The Spa at Seabourn – the highest rated spa at sea. Regent offers the most all-inclusive cruise of any cruise ship, anywhere. Onboard Regent’s ships, all rooms are “suites” or better. Regent offers Sip, Sail, and Savor, a 6-star culinary experience with French, classic American, and a taste of Tuscany.

Oceania provides the best cuisine at sea of any cruise ship, anywhere. On their newest ships, Marina & Riviera, Oceania features a restaurant called La Reserve by ‘Wine Spectator.’ Onboard Marina & Riviera, discover Bon Appetit at Sea, the only cooking school at sea to offer hands-on instruction.

Crystal Cruises is the world’s leading luxury cruise provider, having earned unprecedented recognition as the World’s Best for an incredible 20 years – an accomplishment unmatched by any other cruise line, hotel or resort anywhere. Aboard the all-inclusive, ultra-luxurious Symphony and Serenity, refined elegance meets casual simplicity. Crystal sails to all seven continents, providing worldwide experiences that bridge the best of land and sea.

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WINE+DINE

Dining Guide alcazartapasbar.com; open Mon.-Sat. for dinner, Sat.-Sun. for brunch. Head to this cool Mesa boîte for Cal/Mexinfused Spanish-style nibbles. ALCHEMY ARTS CAFE 35 W. Haley St., Santa Barbara, 805-899-8811, alchemyartscenter.com; open daily for breakfast and lunch. Serving food that cleanses the body, the cafe at the Alchemy Arts Center offers vegan and gluten-free items. AMERICAN ALE 14 E. Cota St., Santa Barbara, 805-845-6226,

americanale.net, open Tues.-Sun. for dinner. This all-American spot offers

daily for dinner. This new American restaurant with an expansive beer and wine bar uses local ingredients such as produce from the farmers market and seafood from the fish market.

BISTRO 1111 1111 E. Cabrillo Blvd.,

Santa Barbara, 805-962-5394, arnoldis.com; open Sat.-Sun. for breakfast, daily for lunch and dinner.

Santa Barbara, 805-730-1111; open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

BROPHY BROS. 119 Harbor Way, Santa Barbara, 805-966-4418, brophybros.com; open daily for lunch and dinner. Locals and tourists flock to

Try the signature crab cake ($15) at this Hyatt Santa Barbara restaurant.

the harbor for sturdy cocktails, fish ‘n’ chips, grilled seafood, and great chowder.

THE BLACK SHEEP 26 E. Ortega

CA’ DARIO 37 E. Victoria St., Santa Barbara, 805-884-9419, cadario.net; open daily for lunch and dinner.

Honest Italian cuisine and bocce ball out back—that’s been the Arnoldi’s story since it opened in 1937. From the twin 7-Up neon signs framing the front door to the lively bar, this joint is as genuine as it gets.

burgers and beer, and a wood paneled Americana aesthetic to match. ARCH ROCK 608 Anacapa St.,

and fine art on either patio of the Sullivan Goss art gallery.

neighborhood seafood spot has delicious weekly specials and popular early and late happy hours every day. ARIGATO SUSHI 1225 State St., Santa Barbara, 805-965-6074, arigatosantabarbara.com; open daily for dinner. Arigato (“thank you” in Japanese) to the owners of this superb State Street sushi restaurant. ARLINGTON TAVERN 21 W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara, 805770-2626, arlingtontavern.com; open BOUCHON

BARBARENO 205 W. Canon

Perdido St., Santa Barbara, 805-9639591, barbareno.com; open Wed.Sun. for dinner. This California-style bistro celebrates the surrounding terrain through its decor, menu, and name, which is derived from one of the extinct Chumash languages spoken in the Santa Barbara area. BELCAMPO MEAT CO. 38 W.

Victoria St., Santa Barbara, 805770-7800, belcampomeatco.com; open daily. This counter-service restaurant at

BLIND TIGER 409 State St., Santa

Barbara, 805-957-4111, blindtigersb .com; open daily for dinner. Housed in one of downtown’s historic buildings dating back to 1889, this multilevel venue offers drinks, dining (ranging from charcuterie plates to flatbreads and sliders), dancing, and live performances. THE BLUE OWL 5 W. Canon Perdido St., Santa Barbara, 805-705-0991, theblueowlsantabarbara.com; open Tues.-Sat. for lunch and Fri.-Sat. late night. Starting as a “night owl” pop-up, this eatery with Asian influences quickly became a local staple. For a midnight snack, try favorites like the Thai basil cheeseburger ($8) or bahn mi ($7.75).

This charming locale offers true northern Italian dishes such as the crespelle trevisane ($15), a gratin of homemade crêpes filled with ricotta cheese and radicchio. CA’ DARIO PIZZERIA 29 E. Victoria St., Santa Barbara, 805-957-2020, cadariopizza.net, open daily for dinner, Monday through Saturday for lunch. Three doors down from the original Ca’ Dario, this pizzeria specializes in only the best creative yet authentic Italian pies. CADIZ 509 State St., Santa Barbara,

805-770-2760, cadizsb.com; open daily dinner. Enjoy chef Alex Bollinger’s upscale, modern Italian and Spanish cuisine on a heated open-air patio facing State Street. CARLITOS 1324 State St., Santa

BELLA VISTA 1260 Channel Dr.,

trendy restaurant serves up innovative versions of classic American favorites.

BLUSH RESTAURANT & LOUNGE

BOATHOUSE AT HENDRY’S BEACH 2981 Cliff Dr., Santa

Barbara, 805-962-7117, carlitos .com; open Sun. for breakfast, daily for lunch and dinner. Enjoy refreshing margaritas and sophisticated Mexican food at this casual patio restaurant right across the street from the historic Arlington Theater. CAVA 1212 Coast Village Rd.,

Resort Biltmore’s chef Alessandro Cartumini prepares elegant Italianinspired California coastal cuisine.

Barbara, 805-898-2628, sbfishhouse .com; open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Head to Hendry’s Beach to

Montecito, 805-969-8500, cava restaurant.com; open Sun. for brunch, daily for lunch and dinner. Sip on

dine on local seafood.

BENCHMARK EATERY 1201 State St., Santa Barbara, 805-845-2600, benchmarkeatery.com; open daily for lunch and dinner. Get comfortable in

BOUCHON 9 W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara, 805-730-1160, bouchon santabarbara.com; open daily for dinner. Farmers market ingredients star in

sangria and enjoy a chile relleno ($14.50) or any of the many Spanish-influenced recipes served at Cava.

a family-friendly environment with a broad menu consistent with their motto, “Just B.E.”

elegant seasonal French-inspired dishes.

Hollister Ave., Santa Barbara, 805-

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dinner destination with an innovative menu, the ramen is a fan favorite.

630 State St., Santa Barbara, 805957-1300, blushsb.com; open daily for lunch and dinner. This upscale

THE BISTRO AT BACARA 8301

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St., Santa Barbara, 805-965-1113, theblacksheepsb.com; open Tues.-Sun. for dinner. At this lively and intimate

the butcher shop located in the Santa Barbara Public Market serves seasonal meat-based dishes as well as grab-and-go favorites to takeaway.

Montecito, 805-969-2261, four seasons.com; open daily for breakfast and lunch, Wed.-Mon. for dinner, Sun. for brunch. The Four Season

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Enjoy sweeping ocean views and menu highlights such as pastas and brick-oven flatbreads or lighter coastal cuisine.

Brasil Arts Cafe shares Brazilian culture through food and dance, featuring original creations such as juice from the superfruit cupuaçu.

ARNOLDI’S CAFE 600 Olive St.,

ARTS & LETTERS CAFE 7 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara, 805730-1463, artsandletterscafe.com; open daily for lunch. Enjoy bistro fare

Santa Barbara, 805-845-2800, archrocksantabarbara.com; open daily for lunch and dinner. This

571-3018, bacararesort.com; open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

BRASIL ARTS CAFE 1230 State St., Ste. C, Santa Barbara, 805-8457656, brasilartscafe.com, open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

C’EST CHEESE CAFE 825 Santa Barbara St., Santa Barbara, 805965-0318, cestcheese.com; open daily for breakfast and lunch. This recently opened cafe is connected to the cheese shop of the same name; naturally their grilled cheese ($8.50) is to die for, but so are the seasonal salads, soups, and pastries.

P H O T O G R A P H : B O U C H O N , S H E L LY V I N S O N

ALCAZAR TAPAS BAR 1812 Cliff Dr., Santa Barbara, 805-962-0337,

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ALCHEMY ARTS CAFE

CHUCK’S OF HAWAII 3888 State

St., Santa Barbara, 805-687-4417, chucksofhawaii.com; open daily for dinner. Since 1967, locals have loved this steak house for its distinguishing menu printed on the side of sherry bottles and salad bar.

EL ENCANTO 800 Alvarado Pl.,

prepared sandwiches and salads incorporating wholesome and seasonal ingredients. THE GARDEN MARKET

CIELITO RESTAURANT 1114 State

Santa Barbara, 805-845-5800, belmond.com/el-encanto-santabarbara; open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Sun. for brunch.

3811 Santa Claus Ln., Carpinteria, 805-7455505; open daily for breakfast and lunch. A stop

St., Santa Barbara, 805-965-4770, cielitorestaurant.com; open Tues.-Sun. for lunch and dinner. This high-end

The hotel’s lounge, wine room, bar, and terrace all boast romantic settings California-coastal cuisine and stunning views.

at this seaside boutique yields sandwiches, quiches, and salads in the lovely garden.

raw bar, taqueria, and tequila lounge offers gourmet Mexican-inspired dishes.

EL PASEO RESTAURANT 10 El

GIANNFRANCO’S TRATTORIA 666 Linden

CLEMENTINE’S STEAKHOUSE

4631 Carpinteria Ave., Carpinteria, 805-684-5119; open Wed.-Sun. for dinner. This steak house is old school, no nonsense, and always serves a big meal— make sure to save room for pie. COLD SPRING TAVERN 5995

Stagecoach Rd., Santa Barbara, 805-967-0066, coldspringtavern.com; open Mon.-Fri. for lunch and dinner, Sat.-Sun. for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Tucked into the trees off the scenic Highway 154, this historic stagecoach stop is a rustic spot offering live music, authentic barbecue, and traditional Western fare. CORKTREE CELLARS WINE BAR & BISTRO 910 Linden Ave., Carpin-

teria, 805-684-1400, corktreecellars .com; open Tues.-Sun. for lunch and dinner. This comfy, cozy spot is known for its farmers market-inspired entrees, afternoon tapas, charcuterie and cheeses, and wine flights such as Drawing a Blanc? ($13.50) of Sauvignon Blancs. CRUSHCAKES & CAFE 1315

Anacapa St., Santa Barbara, 805963-9353, crushcakes.com; open daily for breakfast and lunch. Enjoy a cupcake and cup of Intelligentsia coffee, or grab an omelet, sandwich, or salad with friends.

PHOTOGRAPHS: FINCH & FORK, AUBRIE PICK

high-end Santa Barbara staple is known for its comfortably charming dining room and seasonal Cal-French cuisine.

Paseo, Santa Barbara, 805-9626050, elpaseosb.com; open daily for dinner, Sun. for brunch. Head to this Spanish-style courtyard for an agave martini, warm chips, and fresh guacamole. EMPTY BOWL GOURMET NOODLE BAR 38 West Victoria St., Santa

Barbara, 805-335-2426, empty-bowlnoodle.com; open daily for lunch and dinner. Located in the

Santa Barbara, 805962-3313, enterprise fishcosantabarbara .com; open daily for lunch and dinner. This lively, family-friendly restaurant—a local and tourist favorite since 1977—is known for its fresh seafood and unbeatable happy hour. EUREKA! 601 Paseo

Nuevo, Santa Barbara, 805-6183388, eurekarestaurant group.com; open daily for lunch and dinner.

cone full of cheese, salumi, or prosciutto to enjoy while walking around the Santa Barbara Public Market? Cold sandwiches and panini are also available to go. D’ANGELO’S BREAD & BAKERY

FINCH & FORK 31 W. Carrillo St., Santa Barbara, 805-879-9100, finchandforkrestaurant.com, open Mon.-Fri. for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Sat.-Sun. for brunch and dinner. This restaurant has fun with modern

25 W. Gutierrez St., Santa Barbara, 805-962-5466; open daily for breakfast and lunch. Hit this relaxing breakfast/

comfort food such as fish tacos ($4) and flatbreads (from $13) paired with carefully crafted cocktails and wine.

Barbara, 805-966-5006, downeyssb .com; open Tues.-Sun. for dinner. This

THE HARBOR RESTAURANT 210 Stearns Wharf,

ENTERPRISE FISH CO. 225 State St.,

Discover great burgers and craft beer in a contemporary/rustic setting.

DOWNEY’S 1305 State St., Santa

Tuscan grill specialties and Sicilian dishes are the draw.

heart of the Santa Barbara Public Market, this Thai spot offers madeto-order salads, noodle dishes, and more.

CULTURE COUNTER 38 West Victoria St., Santa Barbara, 805770-7778, culturecountersb.com; open daily. What is not to like about a

lunch spot for fresh pastries, poached eggs, and more.

Ave., Carpinteria, 805-6840720, giannfrancos.com; open Wed.-Mon. for lunch and dinner. Creative takes on

FINCH & FORK

EMPTY BOWL GOURMET NOODLE BAR

FLAGSTONE PANTRY 38 W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara, 805617-4568, flagstonepantry.com; open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This counter offers a selection of

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WINE+DINE THE LARK 131 Anacapa St., Santa Barbara, 805-284-0370, thelarksb .com; open Tues.-Sun. for dinner. Named for the

seafood spot is a great place to take in panoramic views. HARRY’S PLAZA CAFE 3313 State

St., Santa Barbara, 805-687-2800, harryssb.com; open daily for lunch and dinner. Here, the drinks are stiff and the steaks thick and tender.

sleek overnight Pullman train of the Southern Pacific Railroad that serviced Santa Barbara from 1910 to 1968, this Funk Zone destination boasts a delicious seasonally influenced menu of familystyle dishes.

LUCKY PENNY 127 Anacapa St., Santa Barbara, 805-284-0358, luckypennysb.com, open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This

LA SUPER-RICA TAQUERIA 622 N. Milpas St.,

LUCKY’S 1279 Coast Village Rd., Montecito, 805-565-7540, luckyssteakhouse.com; open daily for dinner, Sat.-Sun. for brunch. Enjoy filet

HIMALAYAN KITCHEN 431 State

St., Santa Barbara, 805-882-1000, himalayankitchensantabarbara.com; open daily for lunch and dinner. This

THE OUTPOST

old-school feel that pays tribute to Santa Barbara’s historic China Town. Try the Reuben ($8.95) to blend in with the regulars.

Santa Barbara, 805-9634940; open Thurs.-Tues. for lunch and dinner. With its homemade corn tortillas and casual patio seating, this family-owned Mexican restaurant has been a favorite for decades, and even made its way into a Katy Perry song. LE CAFE STELLA 3302 McCaw Ave., Santa Barbara, 805-5697698, lecafestella.com; open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This contemporary French-American cafe offers everything from crepes to a classic cheeseburger.

hip walk-up cafe offers options from fresh-made pastries and coffee to go to wood-fired pizzas to scrumptious salads at the picnic tables on the patio.

mignon, seafood, and great wine at this first-rate, four-starred steak house. MESA VERDE 1919 Cliff Dr., Santa Barbara, 805-963-4474, mesaverde restaurant.com; open daily for breakfast and lunch. A fresh take on vegetarian with inventive and modern, plant based cuisine—try chef Greg Arnold’s popular wild-mushroom tacos with lemon crème fraîche, harissa, pepitas, and baby spring onion ($11). MILK & HONEY 30 W. Anapamu

LOS AGAVES 600 N. Milpas St.,

THE HUNGRY CAT recently opened restaurant is a paleo dieter’s paradise serving up Nepalese, Indian, and Tibetan cuisine. HOLDREN’S STEAK & SEAFOOD

Rd., Montecito, 805-969-7878; 15 E. Figueroa St., Santa Barbara, 805966-1717; and 3607 State St., Santa Barbara, 805-687-8701, jeannines .com; open daily for breakfast and lunch. These cozy spots are popular

512 State St., Santa Barbara, 805-965-3363, holdrens.com; open Mon.-Fri. for lunch, daily for dinner, Sun. for brunch. Eight cuts of high-end

scenes for the handmade pastries and breakfast and lunch dishes.

prime beef plus chops, ribs, and seafood are staples at this friendly spot.

JILL’S PLACE 632 Santa Barbara

HOLLISTER BREWING COMPANY

6980 Marketplace Dr., Goleta, 805968-2810, hollisterbrewco.com; open daily for lunch and dinner. This brewpub offers comfort food and handcrafted beers made on-site. THE HUNGRY CAT 1134 Chapala

St., Santa Barbara, 805-884-4701, thehungrycat.com; open Tues.-Sun. for dinner. Check out chef de cuisine Peter Cham’s brand new menu. JANE 1311 State St., Santa Barbara,

805-962-1311, janerestaurantsb.com; open Mon.-Sat. for lunch and dinner. This cozy restaurant offers a variety of gourmet comfort food and delicious salad bowls. JEANNINE’S BAKERY AND

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RESTAURANT 1253 Coast Village

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St., Santa Barbara, 805-963-0378, jillsplacesb.com; open Mon.-Sat. for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Fourthgeneration Santa Barbaran Jill Shalhoob’s steak house offers an old-school menu and weekly specials. JOE’S CAFE 536 State St., Santa

Barbara, 805-966-4638, joescafesb .com; open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Since 1928, American favorites and strong drinks have been served at this cozy diner-style bar/ restaurant—a local institution.

Santa Barbara, 805-564-2626; 2911 De la Vina St., Santa Barbara, 805682-2600; 7024 Market Place Dr., Goleta, 805-968-7024, los-agaves .com; open Sat.-Sun. for breakfast, daily for lunch and dinner. A local favorite for its modern Mexican dishes— the chiles norteños ($13.95, poblano chiles with shrimp, cheese, and a chipotle sauce) are a favorite—and generous portion sizes, and enjoy the salsa verde con aguacate with fresh chips while you wait. LOS ARROYOS 14 W. Figueroa St.,

Santa Barbara, 805-962-5541; open Sat.-Sun. for breakfast, daily for lunch and dinner; 1280 Coast Village Rd., Montecito, 805-9699059, losarroyos.net; open daily for lunch and dinner. The Mexican food at these popular venues is straightforward and fresh. LOUIE’S CALIFORNIA BISTRO

1404 De la Vina St., Santa Barbara, 805-963-7003, louiessb.com; open Mon.-Fri. for lunch, daily for dinner.

able bistro uses fresh ingredients in its gourmet dishes.

and fresh cocktails at this chic restaurant. MONTECITO CAFE 1295 Coast

Village Rd., Montecito, 805-9693392, montecitocafe.com; open daily for lunch and dinner. This cafe in the Montecito Inn is well loved for its feelgood food. MONTECITO WINE BISTRO 516 San Ysidro Rd., Montecito, 805-9697520, pierrelafond.com; open daily for lunch and dinner. California bistro cuisine complements the esteemed wines of owner Pierre Lafond. THE NUGGET 2318 Lillie Ave., Summerland, 805-969-6135; and 5685 Calle Real, Goleta, 805-9645200; open daily for lunch and dinner. Down-home Americana fare with the appropriate dose of Western kitsch and memorabilia is the draw at these family-friendly joints.

This upscale pleasant California-cuisine bistro (psst: it’s dog friendly!) is tucked into the front corner of the historic Upham Hotel.

OLIO CRUDO BAR 11 W. Victoria St., Ste. 17, Santa Barbara, 805-8992699, olioelimone.com/olio-crudo-bar; open daily for dinner. Seasonally driven

LOVEJOY’S PICKLE ROOM 126 E.

crudo (raw) Italian seafood and meats, as well as cotto (cooked) bar menu items are served on a first-come, first-served basis.

JULIENNE 138 E. Canon Perdido

St., Santa Barbara, 805-845-6488, restaurantjulienne.com; open Tue.Sun. for dinner. This upscale sustain-

St., Santa Barbara, 805-275-4232, milknhoneytapas.com; open daily for dinner. Dine on flavorful modern tapas

Canon Perdido St., Santa Barbara, 805-965-1015. Open Mon.-Sat. for dinner. Stroll through the red door of this bar for newly restored digs with an

OLIO E LIMONE RISTORANTE

11 W. Victoria St., Ste. 17, Santa

P H OTO G R A P H S : T H E O U T P O S T, A U B R I E P I C K ; T H E H U N G R Y C AT, A N D R E W S T U A R T P H OTO G R A P H Y

Santa Barbara, 805-963-3311, harborsb.com; open daily for lunch and dinner, Sat.-Sun. for breakfast and brunch. This busy steak and

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OLIO CRUDO BAR

Barbara, 805-899-2699, olioelimone .com; open Mon.-Sat. for lunch, daily for dinner. Upscale authentic Italian cuisine in an inviting atmosphere. Visible through a glass wall is the wine cellar, which represents the award-winning list of more than 230 different selections.

atmosphere that has been around for more than a century.

OLIO PIZZERIA 11 W. Victoria St.,

PALOMA RESTAURANT & TEQUILA BAR 5764 Calle Real, Goleta,

Ste. 21, Santa Barbara, 805-8992699, oliopizzeria.com, open daily for lunch and dinner. This neighborhood

805-681-0766, palomagoleta.com; open daily for lunch and dinner, and weekends for breakfast. This Goleta go-

pizzeria and enoteca serves gourmet meats and cheeses, fresh salads, more than 15 different wood-fired pizzas, and a delectable array of desserts.

to spot is popular for the modern takes on Mexican classics.

ON THE ALLEY 117 Harbor Way,

PANE E VINO TRATTORIA 1482

E. Valley Rd., Montecito, 805-9699274; open Mon.-Sat. for lunch and dinner, Sun. for dinner. A cozy ambi-

Santa Barbara, 805-962-6315, open daily for breakfast and lunch, Fri.-Sun. for dinner. From the owners

ance is the attraction at this quiet Italian restaurant.

of Brophy Bros., this spot features quick bites for a warm summer day.

THE PASTA SHOPPE 38 West

OPAL RESTAURANT AND BAR

P H OTO G R A P H S : T H E O U T P O S T, A U B R I E P I C K ; O L I O C R U D O B A R , P H OTO C O U R T E S Y O F O L I O C R U D O B A R A N D G A R Y M O S S / G A R Y M O S S P H O T O G R A P H Y. C O M

THE PALMS 701 Linden Ave, Carpinteria, 805-684-3811, the palmscarpinteria.com; open daily for dinner. Cook your own steak is a fun

Victoria St., Santa Barbara, 805-770-3668, thepastashoppellc .com; open daily for lunch and dinner.

1325 State St., Santa Barbara, 805966-9676, opalrestaurantandbar .com; open Mon.-Sat. for lunch, daily for dinner. Eclectic California cuisine

Enjoy handmade pasta from a daily changing menu while observing an Italian kitchen at work.

with cultural influences from around the world in an engaging environment.

PETROS 1316 State St., Santa

THE OUTPOST 5650 Calle Real,

Goleta, 805-964-1288, outpostsb .com; open daily for dinner. Situated inside the newly opened Goodland hotel, this happening spot offers a menu of price-by-the-piece international street food (bao buns and halibut tacos) plus ocean-to-plate entrees with a California cool vibe and gorgeous view of the mountains. PACIFIC CREPES 705 Anacapa St., Santa Barbara, 805-882-1123, pacificcrepe.com; open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Enjoy a French-inspired favorite and practice un peu de français. PADARO BEACH GRILL 3765

Santa Claus Ln., Carpinteria, 805-566-9800, padaro beachgrill.com; open daily for lunch and dinner. Visit this local family favorite for its patiostyle dining. The remodeled restaurant provides ample space for large events and live music. THE PALACE GRILL

8 E. Cota St., Santa Barbara, 805-963-5000, palacegrill.com; open daily for lunch and dinner. The Palace Grill honors Cajun food and hospitality in a jazzy atmosphere.

Barbara, 805-899-9100, petros restaurant.com; open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. If you’re feeling especially bold at this upscale Mediterranean eatery, try the spicy Greek kafteri cheese blended with hot peppers to tantalize your taste buds. PIANO RIVIERA LOUNGE 129

E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara, 805-882-0050, sbpiano.com; open Mon.-Sat. for lunch and dinner, Sun. for lunch. Sit for happy hour and listen to live music while dining on salads and burgers as you overlook the courthouse sunken gardens. PLOW & ANGEL 900 San Ysidro Ln., Montecito, 805-565-1700, sanysidroranch.com; open Wed.-Sat. for lunch, daily for dinner. Select a THE OUTPOST

cozy table near the stone fireplace or sit at the bar and sip one of the delicious signature margaritas. RELAIS DE PARIS 734 State St.,

Santa Barbara, 805-963-6077, relaisdeparis-santabarbara.com; open Tues.-Fri. for dinner, Sat.-Sun. for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Modeled

with an artistic twist at this gem. SAMA SAMA KITCHEN 1208 State St., Santa Barbara, 805-965-4566, samasamakitchen.com, open daily for dinner. Sama Sama offers Indonesianinspired dishes created with fresh ingredients from our farmers market.

after a 19th-century brasserie, traditional French food is the draw here—and the recipe for the sauce originale has been kept a secret since its creation in 1959.

SANTA MONICA SEAFOOD 38 W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara, 805-845-0745, smseafoodmarket .com; open daily for lunch and dinner. Choose from homemade deli-style

RENAUD’S PATISSERIE & BISTRO

takeout or a full menu at the intimate oyster bar.

3315 State St., Santa Barbara, 805569-2400, and 1324 State St., Ste. N, Santa Barbara, 805-892-2800, renaudsbakery.com; open daily for breakfast and lunch. Savor the French breakfast dishes as well as salads, sandwiches, quiches, and, of course, lots and lots of delectable pastries. RINCON BREWERY 5065 Carpinteria Ave., Carpinteria, 805-684-6044, rinconbrewery.com; open daily for lunch and dinner. The Rincon Beach coastline and local Carpinteria farmlands together form the “waves of grain” that inspire these hand-crafted beers and bar bites. RODNEY’S STEAKHOUSE 633

E. Cabrillo Blvd., Santa Barbara, 805-884-8554, rodneyssteakhouse .com; open Tues.-Sat. for dinner.

SAVOY CAFE & DELI 24 W. Figueroa St., Santa Barbara, 805962-6611, thesavoycafe.com; open Mon.-Sat. breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Sun. for breakfast and lunch. They say you can’t find love in a bar, but you can in the award-winning Savoy salad bar. SCARLETT BEGONIA 11 W. Victoria St., Ste. 10, Santa Barbara, 805-770-2143, scarlettbegonia.net, open Tues.-Sat. for breakfast, brunch, and dinner, Sun. for breakfast and brunch. With menus that change every week, this downtown eatery aims to treat guests with delicious local and seasonal bites. SEAGRASS RESTAURANT 30 E.

The high-end Fess Parker DoubleTree Resort’s restaurant serves tender steaks and seafood.

Ortega St., Santa Barbara, 805-9631012, seagrassrestaurant.com; open Tues.-Sun. for dinner. Chef Robert

ROY 7 West Carrillo St., Santa Bar-

Perez and family bring their seasoned talent to the Santa Barbara culinary scene with an upscale “coastal cuisine” menu.

bara, 805-966-5636, restaurantroy .com; open daily for dinner. A great spot to check out some art while you eat, especially for a late meal (they serve until midnight.) SAKANA SUSHI BAR & JAPANESE

1046 Coast Village Rd., Montecito, 805-565-2014; open Tues.-Sat. for lunch, Tues.-Sun. for dinner. Savor traditional Japanese cuisine and sushi

SEVEN BAR & KITCHEN 224 Helena Ave., Santa Barbara, 805845-0377, sevensb.com; open Mon.Fri. for happy hour and dinner, Sat.Sun. for lunch and dinner. Come to this Funk Zone joint thinking of the seven deadly sins—each of their sandwiches is named for one—and leave thinking of the creative cocktails and personable staff

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that make this bar a great place to hangout and people watch. THE SHOP CAFE 730 N. Milpas St., Santa Barbara, 805-845-1696, shopcafesb.com; open daily for breakfast and lunch. A new American-style eat-

LU N C H | DI N N E R | C O C K TA I L S | P R I VAT E DI N I N G

ery and popular spot on Milpas, almost everything on the fun-to-read menu is made in-house. SHORELINE BEACH CAFE 801 Shoreline Dr., Santa Barbara, 805-568-0064, shorelinebeach cafe.com; open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Kids can play in the sand under the sun while parents take a mini-vacation with the fresh cocktails and beach-worthy fare.

lunch | dinner | take-out pizza bar | wine bar | full bar

SLY’S 686 Linden Ave., Carpinteria, 805-684-

6666, slysonline.com; open Mon.-Fri. for lunch, daily for dinner, Sat.-Sun. for brunch. From the retro cocktail list to the menu of classic steak house favorites, owner/chef James Sly offers up a charming dose of Americana.

Santa Barbara’s original artisanal pizzeria

SPA CAFE AT BACARA 8301 Hollister Ave.,

Santa Barbara, 805-571-3018, bacararesort .com; open Fri.-Sun. for breakfast and lunch. Dine indoors or out on seafood dishes with Asianinspired flavors and textures while overlooking the Bacara spa pool. On select evenings, enjoy a sharedplate dinner concept based on the fresh ingredients of the day.

photos: Kevin Steele / kevsteele.com

OLIOELIMONE.COM

| OLIOcrudobar.com |

oliopizzeria.com

11 W. Victoria St., Ste.’s 17, 18 & 21, Santa Barbara

STACKY’S SEASIDE 2315 Lillie Ave., Summerland, 805-969-9908; open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This nautical shack

| 805.899.2699

NE TOU WI

RS

SB

is the perfect stop for a basket of fish and chips after a stroll along the beach. STELLA MARE’S 50 Los Patos Way, Santa

Barbara, 805-969-6705, stellamares.com; open Tues.-Fri. for lunch, Tues.-Sun. for dinner, Sat.Sun. for brunch. Escape to this four-starred homey hideaway for a French country-inspired meal. THE STONEHOUSE RESTAURANT 900 San Ysidro Ln., Montecito, 805-565-1724, sanysidroranch.com; open Thurs.-Sat. for lunch, daily for dinner, Sun. for brunch. Located at the San Ysidro Ranch, this fine dining landmark—one of the most romantic restaurants in America—serves chef Matthew Johnson’s gourmet regional cuisine indoors beside the wood-burning fireplace or on the heated deck with panoramic ocean sunset views. SUMMERLAND BEACH CAFE 2294 Lillie

Ave., Summerland, 805-969-1019, summer landbeachcafe.com; open daily for breakfast and lunch. This quaint Victorian beach house

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restaurant serves a wide variety of meals with down-home hospitality. TAP THAI CUISINE 3130 State St., Santa Barbara, 805-682-1114, tapthaicuisine.com; open daily for dinner. Healthy and homemade Thai food is served in a thoroughly modern ambiance, and every dish can be made vegetarian. THE TEE-OFF 3627 State St., Santa Barbara, 805-687-1616, teeoffsb.com; open daily for dinner. This popular steak house and their delicious

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prime crusted sirloin ($28.95) is a throwback to the good ol’ days.

proximity to the Funk Zone, Stearns Wharf, or State Street, this spot is a must for barbecue and cocktails.

THREE PICKLES 126 E. Canon

Perdido St., Santa Barbara, 805-9651015; open Mon.-Sat. for lunch; 420 S. Fairview Ave., Goleta, 805-9644585, threepickles.com; open Mon.Fri. for lunch. Enjoy great sandwiches,

TUPELO JUNCTION CAFE 1218

State St., Santa Barbara, 805-8993100, tupelojunction.com; open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

a view of the historic Presidio at the downtown location, and as many pickles as you can eat.

Known for its menu packed with Southern influences, the fried-chicken salad, ($16) and crab claw bloody Mary ($12) are favorites.

TOMA RESTAURANT & BAR 324 W.

VIA MAESTRA 42 3343 State St.,

Cabrillo Blvd., Santa Barbara, 805962-0777, tomarestaurant.com; open daily for dinner. One of Santa Barbara’s

Santa Barbara, 805-569-6522; open Mon.-Sat. for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Sun. for lunch. Renato

most romantic waterfront restaurants serves exquisite seasonal Italian and Mediterranean dishes.

Moiso’s cozy bistro serves authentic Italian cuisine.

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1483 E. Valley Rd., Montecito, 805565-9393, viavaisb.com; open daily for lunch and dinner. Indulge in thin-

VIA VAI TRATTORIA PIZZERIA

Coast Village Rd., Montecito, 805969-2646, trelunesb.com; open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A sophisticated Italian eatery, this frequented spot is always packed with regulars and local celebrities alike. TRI TIP COMPANY 214 State St.,

Santa Barbara, 805-845-2222; open daily for lunch and dinner. With close

crust pizza, fresh salads, or hearty pasta on the terrace. VILLA WINE BAR & KITCHEN

618 Anacapa St., Santa Barbara, 805-770-5283; open Tues.-Sat. for lunch and dinner. Small bites with an impressive wine selection, Sean

WINE CASK and Gabi Larkins’s family-friendly restaurant is also known for its weekly wine tastings.

ZAYTOON 209 E. Canon Perdido St., Santa Barbara, 805-963-1293, zaytoon.com; open Mon.-Sat. for lunch, daily for dinner. Live entertain-

WINE CASK 813 Anacapa St., Santa Barbara, 805-966-9463, winecask .com; open Tues.-Fri. for lunch, Tues.Sun. for dinner. The beloved Wine Cask

ment completes the atmosphere at this Lebanese-style eatery, where belly dancers saunter among diners on the patio.

and the adjacent upscale Intermezzo cafe and bar serve gourmet Mediterraneanstyle recipes.

ZEN YAI 425 State St., Santa

YELLOW BELLY 2611 De la Vina

St., Santa Barbara, 805-770-5694, yellowbellytap.com; open daily for dinner. Owners Alex Noormand and Tracy Clark have been friends since the age of 7 and always dreamt of starting a restaurant together. Now, they serve modern pub food.

Barbara, 805-957-1102; open daily for lunch and dinner. This modern Thai restaurant offers dairy-free or vegetarian dishes. ZOOKERS 5404 Carpinteria Ave., Carpinteria, 805-684-8893, zookersrestaurant.com; open Mon.Sat. for lunch and dinner. A relaxed atmosphere with a creative seasonally and locally influenced menu.

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WINE+DINE

Winery Guide

Kunin is known for staying true to the nature of the grapes he uses. Try the 2012 “pape star” Rhône blend ($28)—a heady blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. MAIL ROAD WINES 835 E. Canon Perdido St., Santa Barbara, 805451-4440, mailroadwines.com. Pinot Noir sourced exclusively from the Mount Carmel Vineyard located 50 miles northwest of Santa Barbara at the geographic center of the St. Rita Hills and the end of none other than Mail Road. MARGERUM WINE COMPANY

813 Anacapa St., Santa Barbara, 805-845-8435, margerumwine company.com. Stop by Doug Margerum’s tasting room, which features his own reds and whites as well as others—Cent’Anni, Cimarone, Happy Canyon, and various French and Italian labels. MUNICIPAL WINEMAKERS

DEEP SEA WINE TASTING ROOM

HAPPY CANYON VINEYARDS

blends and otherworldly varietals found only at Area 5.1, located along the Urban Wine Trail.

217 Stearns Wharf, Ste. G, Santa Barbara, 805-618-1185, conway familywines.com. Located on Stearns Wharf, the Conway family’s nauticalinspired tasting room—a happening spot on the weekend—is home to 15 different wines.

30 El Paseo, Santa Barbara, 805232-3549, happycanyonvineyard .com. The Barrack family produces award-winning Bordeaux varietal wines at the Santa Ynez Valley ranch and vineyard that they call home.

AU BON CLIMAT 813 Anacapa St.,

DRAKE WINES 32 Anacapa St.,

Ste. 5B, Santa Barbara, 805-9637999, aubonclimat.com. For more than 30 years, Jim Clendenen has specialized in Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Noir. His downtown tasting room features ABC wines as well as Verdad, Vita Nova, Qupé, Makor, and Barham Mendelsohn.

Ste. B and C, Santa Barbara, 805845-4801, drakewines.com. Andi and Mark Cummins’s Funk Zone tasting room features Drake wines as well as Bien Nacido Vineyard Pinot Noirs from their Chatter label.

AREA 5.1 WINERY 137 Anacapa St., Ste. B, Santa Barbara, 805-7707251, a51wine.com. Unearth secret

JAFFURS WINE CELLARS

CARR VINEYARDS AND WINERY

414 N. Salsipuedes St., Santa Barbara, 805-965-7985, carrwinery .com. Situated in a hut that was built in the 1940s, Ryan Carr’s downtown cave is the source of whites and reds from grapes grown on more than 100 acres across Santa Barbara County. COTTONWOOD CANYON

224 Anacapa St., Ste. 1A, Santa Barbara, 805-963-1221, cotton woodcanyon.com. The estate-grown Chardonnay and Pinot Noir age well.

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FOX WINE CO. 120 Santa Barbara

St., Santa Barbara, 805-699-6329, foxwineco.com. With a passion for elegant Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah as well as a combined 30-plus years in the wine industry, Sarah and Blair Fox started making their own wines entirely by hand. GRASSINI FAMILY VINEYARDS AND WINERY 813 Anacapa St.,

Ste. 6, Santa Barbara, 805-8973366, grassinifamilyvineyards.com. In the historic El Paseo complex, Grassini’s sustainably produced Bordeaux-style Sauvignon Blancs and Cabernet Sauvignons are the draw.

819 E. Montecito St., Santa Barbara, 805-962-7003, jaffurswine .com. Craig Jaffurs is well-known for his Roussanne, Viognier, Petite Sirah, Grenache, and Syrah. JAMIE SLONE WINES 23 E. De la

Guerra St., Santa Barbara, 805560-6555, jamiesloanwines.com. Jamie and Kym Slone toured the wine regions of France, Germany, Italy, and Spain before settling in Santa Barbara and establishing their own wine label and tasting room. KALYRA WINERY 212 State St.,

Santa Barbara, 805-965-8606, kalyrawinery.com. Australian-born Mike Brown started Kalyra (“a wild and pleasant place” in the Australian Aboriginal language) in 1989. KUNIN WINES 28 Anacapa St.,

Santa Barbara, 805-963-9633, kuninwines.com. Winemaker Seth

MWC32 32 El Paseo, Santa Barbara, 805-845-8435, margerum winecompany.com. Margerum Wine Company’s newest tasting room features reserved and limited production wines as part of the Wine Collection of El Paseo in the illustrious Presidio Neighborhood. OREANA WINERY 205 Anacapa St., Santa Barbara, 805-962-5857, oreanawinery.com. Pinot Noir, Syrah, and small lots of sparkling wine are blended, bottled, and stored at this downtown winery and tasting room. PALI WINE CO. 116 E. Yanonali

St., Santa Barbara, 805-560-7254, paliwineco.com. Cofounders Tim Perr and Scott Knight craft small lots of Pinot Noir and other varietals—try the Santa Barbarainspired Huntington ($22.50), with hints of black cherry, spices, and peppercorn. RARUS 414 N. Salsipuedes St., Santa Barbara, 805-965-7985, raruswines .com. Henry and Marjorie Schimberg’s

PHOTOGRAPH: ROB DAFOE

SANTA BARBARA

22 Anacapa St., Santa Barbara, 805-931-6864, municipalwine makers.com. With modern sophistication and edgy style, Municipal Winemakers offers free wine delivery for guests who bike to the tasting room. Also ask about their reusable bottles and refill deals.

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™ Turner Vineyard is the source of Sangiovese grapes, which are processed for Rarus’s vintages, produced and sold at Carr Winery. SANGUIS 8 Ashley Ave., Santa Barbara,

SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 2015

805-845-0920, sanguiswine.com. Matthias Pippig’s minimalist winery and tasting room is where he produces and offers (by appointment only) samples of his cool-climate Rhône and Burgundian varietals. SANTA BARBARA WINERY 202 Anacapa St., Santa Barbara, 805-963-3633, sbwinery .com. Established in 1962, Santa Barbara Winery—the oldest in the county—currently produces Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah. SILVER WINES 724 Reddick St., Santa

Barbara, 805-963-3052, silverwines.com. Benjamin Silver’s wines capture the complex flavors of fruit he purchases. Tastings are by appointment only. SUMMERLAND WINERY 2330 Lillie Ave., Summerland, 805-565-9463, summerland wine.com. Stop by Bilo Zarif’s upscale tasting room and boutique to try the dozen different blends winemaker Etienne Terlinden creates from Central Coast grapes. WHITCRAFT WINERY 36 S. Calle Cesar

Chavez, Ste. A, Santa Barbara, 805-7301680, whitcraftwinery.com. Whitcraft has been on the map and producing high-quality wines since 1985. Now, founder Chris Whitcraft’s son, Drake, focuses on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

SANTA YNEZ BAEHNER FOURNIER 2840 Montecielo

Dr., Santa Ynez, 805-688-7118, bfwine .com. Limited-edition Bordeaux-style wines made with estate-grown grapes sourced from vineyards each named for an encounter with nature—Sunshine, Rainbow, Moonglow, Misty, and Northstar.

CALZADA RIDGE VINEYARD

3001 Old Calzada Ridge, Santa Ynez, 805-688-0935, calzadaridge.com. Richard and Pamela Harris’s monoculture vineyard only produces limited quantities of the white varietal Viognier. FONTES & PHILLIPS 3630 Sagunto St., Ste.

A1, Santa Ynez, 805-688-2200, fontesand phillipswine.com. Alan Phillips and his wife,

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PHOTOGRAPH: ROB DAFOE

BRIDLEWOOD ESTATE WINERY 3555 Roblar Ave., Santa Ynez, 805-688-9000, bridlewoodwinery.com. Bridlewood’s 105acre, mission-style estate winery is known for its Syrah.

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WINE+DINE Rochelle Fontes-Phillips, founded their winery in 2008 to produce Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, rosé, and Pinot Noir. GAINEY VINEYARD 3950 E. Hwy.

246, Santa Ynez, 805-688-0558, gaineyvineyard.com. This Spanishstyle vineyard, winery, and gourmet tasting room is a relaxing place to spend an afternoon as well as a great location for a private event. GREAT OAKS RANCH AND VINEYARD 2450 Calzada Ave.,

Santa Ynez, 805-686-0895. Wellknown winemaker Andrew Murray makes excellent wine out of this vineyard’s Syrah grapes. IMAGINE WINE 3563 Numancia

St., Ste. 103, Santa Ynez, 805688-1769, imaginewine.com. Winemaker Ross Rankin established Imagine in 2004. Made exclusively from Santa Barbara County fruit, the Paradise Mountain Syrah ($35) is a must try.

SUNSTONE VINEYARDS AND WINERY 125 N. Refugio Rd., Santa

Ynez, 805-688-9463, sunstone winery.com. The Rice family’s French country-style property and villa is a great place to take out-of-town guests for wine tasting as well as a beautiful location for private events. VANDALE VINEYARDS 3040

Box Canyon Rd., Santa Ynez, 805-688-0255. Bruno D’Alfonso blends the Sangiovese grown on Bruce and Beth Vandale’s three-acre vineyard.

SOLVANG BLACKJACK RANCH VINEYARDS AND WINERY 2205 Alamo Pin-

ROBLAR WINERY AND VINEYARDS 3010 Roblar Ave.,

Santa Ynez, 805-686-2603, roblar

S U S A N

winery.com. This viticultural experience not only boasts 38 acres of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon (and sells Syrah and Cabernet Franc as well), but also a commercial kitchen and cooking school, facilities for private events, and vineyard tours.

tado Rd., Solvang, 805-686-9922, blackjackranch.com. After invent-

ing, patenting, copyrighting, and trademarking California blackjack (play goes to 22 instead of 21) in 1990, Roger Wisted opened Blackjack Ranch Winery—a 30-year culmination of passion for wine. BUTTONWOOD FARM WINERY AND VINEYARD 1500 Alamo

Pintado Rd., Solvang, 805-6883032, buttonwoodwinery.com. Winemaker Karen Steinwachs stays true to the tradition of sustainable vineyard management and environmental sensitivity while incorporating her own style in creating boutique wines. CARIVINTAS WINERY 476 First St., Solvang, 805-693-4331, carivintas.com. With a children’s play area and pet-friendly policy, Carivintas makes an afternoon wine tasting an easy family experience. CASA CASSARA WINERY & VINEYARD 1607 Mission Dr.,

Ste. 112, Solvang, 805-688-8691, casacassarawinery.com. Stop by the Valley Station tasting room to sample new releases, purchase wine accesso-

M E T C A L F

ries, and peruse work by local artists. D’ALFONSO-CURRAN WINES

1557 Mission Dr., Solvang, 805736-9463, dalfonso-curranwines .com. Bruno D’Alfonso and Kris Curran bring decades of winemaking experience to their Curran, DiBruno, and Badge labels. DASCOMB CELLARS 1659 Copenhagen Dr., Ste. C, Solvang, 805-6919175, dascombcellars.com. Established in 1999, this charming boutique winery offers Rhône, Burgundy, and Bordeaux-style wines and is known as one of the oldest Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards in the county. FERGUSON CREST fergusoncrest .com. Founded in 2006, Ferguson Crest is a family-run boutique winery set at the highest point in Solvang overlooking the Santa Ynez Valley. Try the crisp, lush Viognier or the spicy and sumptuous Syrah. LINCOURT VINEYARDS 1711 Alamo Pintado Rd., Solvang, 805688-8554, lincourtwines.com. Bill Foley’s winery creates Sauvignon

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Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Syrah. LIONS PEAK VINEYARDS 1659

Copenhagen Dr., Solvang, 805693-5466, lionspeakwine.com. Enjoy the award-winning Cabernet Sauvignons or any of the library wines dating as far back as 1994. LUCAS AND LEWELLEN VINEYARDS AND WINERY 1645

Copenhagen Dr., Solvang, 805686-9336, llwine.com. Winemaker Megan McGrath-Gates and owners Royce Lewellen and Louis Lucas create wines from 400 acres of grapes in the Santa Ynez Valley, Los Alamos, and Santa Maria. PAIGE 23 WINES 805-686-0015. Paige 23 is known for its food-friendly Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah. RIDEAU VINEYARD 1562 Alamo Pintado Rd., Solvang, 805-688-0717, rideauvineyard.com. Originally a guest ranch on the stagecoach route between Santa Ynez and Santa Barbara, this property’s historic El

s

Alamo Pintado Adobe, dating back to 1769, is now a tasting room in which Louisiana-born Iris Rideau serves a selection of her Rhône-varietal and award-winning wines.

Bring a picnic, sit under the olive trees, and enjoy Bill and Roswitha Craig’s award-winning, limited-production Pinot Grigio, Sangiovese, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Meaning “to nourish” in Latin, Alere shows its Sierra Madre Mountainsbased varietals at Avant Tapas and Wine, 35 Industrial Way, Buellton, 805-686-9400, avantwines.com.

ROYAL OAKS WINERY 1582 Mission Dr., Solvang, 805-693-1740. Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon (for blending), and Merlot are the three varietals grown on the Royal Oaks Vineyard in Santa Ynez, though the winery produces other wines as well.

SORT THIS OUT CELLARS 1636

ALMA ROSA WINERY AND VINEYARDS 181 Industrial Way, Ste. C,

RUSACK VINEYARDS 1819 Ballard

Canyon Rd., Solvang, 805-688-1278, rusackvineyards.com. Geoff Rusack and Alison Wrigley Rusack’s tasting room is a picture-perfect place for a picnic or just sipping wine and enjoying the view. SEVTAP WINERY 1576 Copenhagen

Dr., Ste. 1, Solvang, 805-693-9200, sevtapwinery.com. Sevtap is known for its small-lot, handcrafted Bordeaux varietals. SHOESTRING VINEYARD AND WINERY 800 E. Hwy. 246, Solvang,

805-693-8612, shoestringwinery.com.

Copenhagen Dr., Solvang, 805-6881717, sortthisoutcellars.com. Stop by this retro tasting room to celebrate wine culture in a fun, hip fashion. TOCCATA 1665 Copenhagen Dr.,

Solvang, 805-686-5506, toccata wines.com. Santa Barbara County wine pioneers Louis Lucas and Royce Lewellen have planted Italian varietals Pinot Grigio, Malvasia Bianca, and more at their Toccata Vineyards.

Buellton, 805-688-9090, almrosa winery.com. Stop by Richard and Thekla Sanford’s tasting room. The couple has been growing grapes in Sta. Rita Hills since 1970, and with fruit from more than 100 certified organic acres, they produce mainly Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Noir.

WESTERLY VINEYARDS 690

ARCHIUM 805-233-8006, archium cellars.com. Rhône varietals made from tiny, concentrated grapes with extremely low yields.

Alamo Pintado Rd., Solvang, 805963-9696. The proud pioneers of the Happy Canyon area, owners Neil and Francine Afromsky specialize in Bordeaux varietals.

BLUE CAPE CELLARS bluecape cellars.com. Kim Hartleroad produces Pinot Grigio and Pinot Noir grown in the Sta. Rita Hills.

BUELLTON ALERE VINEYARDS & WINERY

805-929-6625, alerewines.com.

COLD HEAVEN CELLARS

92 Second St., Ste. A, Buellton, 805-686-1343, coldheavencellars .com. Founded in 1996, Morgan

est. 1923 Some places inspire the best in each of us. They have the power to bring focus, to draw people together, to change our perspectives, and to launch great ideas. Find out what you can do with a quiet moment away.

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WINE+DINE Clendenen’s winery is dedicated to crafting the finest Viognier, Pinot Noir, and Syrah. CORDON WINE 90 Easy St.,

Buellton, 805-570-3988, cordonwine .com. Winemaker Etienne Terlinden produces small lots of boutique Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah. Tastings are by appointment only. HARTLEY-OSTINI HITCHING POST WINERY at the Hitching Post II

Restaurant, 406 E. Hwy. 246, Buellton, 805-688-0676, hitchingpost2.com. Gray Hartley and Frank Ostini have been blending Pinot Noir, Syrah, and a Cabernet Franc/Merlot blend since 1979. KEN BROWN WINES 157 W. Hwy 246, 805-680-9400, kenbrownwines .com. This small family-owned business specializes in Pinot Noir from Sta. Rita Hills. Check out any of Brown’s 2005 vintages—some of the best he’s created in his 30-plus years in the business.

PRODIGAL WINES 92 Second St., Ste. D, Buellton, 805-688-0476, prodigalwines.com. This family-owned and operated winery specializes in Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir sourced from its own Quinta Santa Rosa vineyard and other vineyards within the appellation. REEVES RANCH VINEYARDS

35 Industrial Way, Buellton, 805688-9400, reevesranchvineyard.com. Try the satisfying Syrah made with Australian and French influences at Avant Tapas and Wine. SHAI CELLARS 818-613-7355, shai

cellars.com. Shawn Shai Halahmy’s Adome ($35) is available to taste at Avant Tapas and Wine. STANDING SUN WINES 92 Second

St., Unit D, Buellton, 805-904-8072, standingsunwines.com. Actress Laura Wright and her husband John’s Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, and more are aged in neutral French oak barrels for 11 months. THORNE WINE 7820 Santa Rosa

KENNETH-CRAWFORD WINES

59 Industrial Way, Buellton, 805693-1340. Winemakers Kenneth Gummere and Mark Crawford Horvath work with local vineyards to make Syrah, Pinot Noir, and Grenache. LAFOND WINERY AND VINEYARDS 6855 Santa Rosa Rd.,

Buellton, 805-688-7921, lafond winery.com. Tasting is a relaxing event at Lafond, where you can stroll the bucolic grounds. MOSBY WINERY 9496 Santa Rosa Rd., Buellton, 805-688-2415, mosby wines.com. Mosby’s lineup includes Dolcetto (a dry, dark red Italian varietal), the Zinfandel-like Teroldego, and Primativo. PACIFIC RIDGE VINEYARDS

35 Industrial Way, Buellton, 805245-5198, pacificridgevineyards.com. Visit Avant Tapas and Wine for sips of this winery’s Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon. PENCE RANCH 1909 W. Hwy 246, Buellton, 805-735-7000, penceranch .com. This 200-acre working ranch turned vineyard and winery in western Santa Barbara County is home to 38 acres of organically farmed Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Rd., Buellton, 805-693-1483, thornewine.com. Situated in the Sta. Rita Hills, Thorne is one of many small producers creating sophisticated Pinot Noirs.

LOMPOC AMPELOS CELLARS 312 N. 9th St., Ste. A, Lompoc, 805-736-9957, ampeloscellars.com. Owners Peter and Rebecca Work practice organic and biodynamic farming for their grapes. Ampelos also sells Chien Winess’s current releases. ARCADIAN WINERY 1515 E. Chestnut Ave., Ste. B, Lompoc, 805737-3900, arcadianwinery.com. Joe Davis combines traditional methods of producing Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah with personal techniques that push the limits of expectation. BABCOCK WINERY AND VINEYARDS 5175 E. Hwy. 246, Lompoc,

805-736-1455, babcockwinery.com. Since 1984, Bryan Babcock has enjoyed acclaim as one of the area’s top winemakers. BRATCHER WINERY 1515 E.

Chestnut Ave., Lompoc, 805-7373900, bratcherwinery.com. Winemaker Chris Bratcher specializes in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

POINT CONCEPCION WINES

420 E. Hwy 246, Buellton, 805-7367763, pointconcepcionwines.com. Try the ready-to-drink Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, and Syrah.

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BREWER-CLIFTON 329 N. F St., Lompoc, 805-735-9184, brewer clifton.com. Greg Brewer and Steve Clifton produce Chardonnay and

Pinot Noir from Sta. Rita Hills. Their 2012 Pinot Noir was ranked #8 on Wine Spectator’s top 100 wines of the world.

805-705-1446, gypsycanyon.com. Deborah Hall creates Angelica from century-old vines—a rare taste of California history—as well as luscious Pinot Noir.

CLOS PEPE ESTATE VINEYARD

4777 E. Hwy. 246, Lompoc, 805735-2196, clospepe.com. Clos Pepe is a small, family farm that produces limited lots of unoaked Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. DE SU PROPIA COSECHA

1501 E. Chestnut Ct., Lompoc, 805345-9355, desupropiacosecha.com. Chris and Deanna King consider their most important element to be sourcing the best grapes when producing their Rhône Valley and Southern France-inspired Chardonnays and Cabernets. DIERBERG FAMILY OF WINES

1280 Drum Canyon Rd., Lompoc, 805-697-1466, dierbergvineyard.com and starlanevineyard.com. Stop by the Dierbergs’ Star Lane tasting room to sample selections from their three wine labels: Dierberg (premium Burgundian varietals), Star Lane (Bordeaux-style Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon), and Three Saints (the “great value” label). EVENING LAND VINEYARDS

1503 E. Chestnut Ave., Lompoc, 805736-9656. Winemaker Sashi Moorman showcases the best from the Sta. Rita Hills in savory sips of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. FIDDLEHEAD CELLARS 1597 E. Chestnut Ave., Lompoc, 800251-1225 (weekdays), 805-7420204 (weekends), fiddleheadcellars .com. Winemaker Kathy Joseph established Fiddlehead in 1989 to master such varietals as Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. Today, her wines stem from the Santa Ynez Valley as well as Oregon’s Willamette Valley. FLYING GOAT CELLARS

1520 E. Chestnut Ct., Unit A, Lompoc, 805-736-9032, flyinggoat cellars.com. Smooth Pinot Noirs and a sparkling wine put this vineyard on the map, and owner Norm Yost prides himself on mastering the details of making wine. FOLEY ESTATES VINEYARD AND WINERY 6121 E. Hwy. 246,

Lompoc, 805-737-6222, foleywines .com. This Rancho Santa Rosa winery reflects Bill Foley and winemaker Lorna Kreutz’s devotion to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

HUBER CELLARS 4892 Hapgood Rd., Lompoc, 805-736-3854, hubercellars.com. With vines planted in 1987, Huber vines are some of the oldest in Sta. Rita Hills. The varietals include Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Dornfelder, a German red grape. JALAMA WINES 308 N. 9th St., Unit C, Lompoc, 805-735-8937. Located in Lompoc’s Wine Ghetto, winemaker Mark Cargasacchi’s tasting room offers five different blends—from the ruby-red 2008 Heartbreak “Joseph Blair” Pinot Noir ($28) to the inky-purple 2007 La Presa Syrah ($36). KESSLER-HAAK 1700 Gypsy

Canyon Dr., Lompoc, 805-735-2283, kesslerhaakwine.com. One of the few Sta. Rita Hills wineries that produce a Riesling as well as sparkling wines. LA MONTAGNE WINERY 1509 E. Chestnut Ave., Lompoc, 805-2916643, lamontagnewinery.com. A selfproclaimed business-educated foodie; Kimberly Smith puts all of her drive and passion into her wines. Her love and desire to produce Pinot Noir has since led her to create her own Pinot Blanc and Tempranillo. LA VIE VINEYARDS 308 N. 9th St., Unit D, Lompoc, 805-735-9629, lavievineyards.com. Ariel and Angela Lavie began harvesting their love for wine in 1998. The result: Burgundianstyle blends. LORING WINE COMPANY

1034 W. Aviation Dr., Lompoc, 805736-0053, loringwinecompany.com. A part of Lompoc’s Wine Ghetto, this winery stands apart from the rest because of Brian Loring’s 12-year experience with Pinot Noir. MELVILLE VINEYARDS AND WINERY 5185 E. Hwy. 246,

Lompoc, 805-735-7030, melville winery.com. Greg Brewer creates Viognier, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah at this Mediterranean-style winery in the Sta. Rita Hills. MONTEMAR 1501 E. Chestnut Ct.,

Lompoc, 805-735-5000. Handcrafted wines, charcuterie, and a variety of cheeses are just a few of the delicacies offered on a large outdoor patio.

GYPSY CANYON WINERY

1505 E. Chestnut Ave., Lompoc,

MORETTI WINES 1595 E. Chestnut

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Ave., Lompoc, 805-735-4400, morrettiwines.com. Antonio and Jeni Moretti dedicate themselves to producing European-style wines that are both well balanced and food-friendly. Favorites include Syrah, Pinot Noir, and a flavorful Bianchetto. PALI WINE CO. 1036 W.

Aviation Dr., Lompoc, 805-7367200, paliwineco.com. Winemakers Tim Perr and Scott Knight craft small lots of Pinot Noir and other varietals—try the Santa Barbara-inspired Huntington ($19), with hints of black cherry, spices, and peppercorn.

winery.com. This 30-acre vineyard is certified organic and biodynamic. PRESS GANG CELLARS 805-291-

3141, pressgangcellars.com. Tiny lots of Grenache, Syrah, Roussanne, and Sauvignon Blanc all made in the Lompoc Wine Ghetto and inspired by the love of music, surfing, travel, food, and wine. SAMSARA WINERY 1500 E.

Chestnut Ct., Ste. A, Lompoc, 805-331-2292, samsarawine.com. Sanskirt for “the eternal cycle of life, ” Samsara emphasizes winegrowing as opposed to winemaking.

PALMINA 1520 E. Chestnut Ct.,

Lompoc, 805-735-2030, palmina wines.com. Steve and Chrystal Clifton’s Palmina is exclusively devoted to producing Italian varietals. PIEDRASASSI 1501 E. Chestnut

Ave., Lompoc, 805-736-6784, piedrasassi.com. This small but serious winery’s 2007 Syrah Rimrock ($46) is well rounded with floral and berry flavors. PRESIDIO VINEYARD AND WINERY 2755 Purisima Rd.,

Lompoc, 805-740-9463, presidio

SANFORD WINERY AND VINEYARDS 5010 Santa Rosa Rd.,

Lompoc, 805-735-5900, sanford winery.com. Winemaker Steve Fennell crafts Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, and Pinot Noir in the handmade adobe winery at Rancho la Rinconada in Sta. Rita Hills.

SEA SMOKE ESTATE VINEYARDS

1604 N. O St., Lompoc, 805-7371600, seasmoke.com. Winemaker Don Schroder makes Pinot Noir from this 106-acre Sta. Rita Hills vineyard. STOLPMAN VINEYARDS 1700

Industrial Way, Ste. B, Lompoc, 805736-5000, stolpmanvineyards.com. Thomas Stolpman dedicates himself to sensible farming and winemaking at the vineyard he has deemed one of the greatest viticultural sites on earth. TURIYA 805-478-7016, turiyawines .com. A one-woman operation that produces less than 300 cases annually of red blends, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and Sangiovese. TYLER WINERY 300 N 12th St.,

Ste. 4A, Lompoc, 805-741-7281, tylerwinery.com. Delicacy and balance are Justin Willett’s key ingredients to creating Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

SCOTT CELLARS 316 N. F St.,

ZOTOVICH CELLARS 300 N. 12th

Lompoc, 805-736-6161, scottcellars .com. Winemaker and owner Peter Scott Fraser focuses on balanced blends. Cuvee J (from $24) is his signature blend of Zinfandel and Syrah.

St., Ste. 1D, Lompoc, 805-736-1600, zotovichcellars.com. Fermented in stainless steal vessels, this winery’s 2010 Viognier ($28) boasts Asian pear and honeysuckle flavors.

LOS OLIVOS ALTA MARIA VINEYARDS 2933 Grand Ave., Ste. A, Los Olivos, 805686-1144, altamaria.com. James Ontiveros and Paul Wilkins’s tasting room showcases their Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay and Pinot Noir as well as their exclusive label, Autonom. ALEXANDER AND WAYNE 2922 Grand Ave., Los Olivos, 805-6889665, arthurearl.com. This winery excels at traditional whites and reds. ANDREW MURRAY VINEYARDS

5249 Foxen Canyon Rd., Los Olivos, 805-686-9604, andrewmurray vineyards.com. Well-known winemaker Andrew Murray shows his exceptional handcrafted, artisanal Rhône varietals at his sleek tasting room. ARTHUR EARL 2922 Grand Ave., Los Olivos, 805-693-1771, arthurearl.com. Whether you prefer whites such as Malvasia Bianca, or reds such as Tempranillo, Arthur Earl has about 15 different wines available at this tasting room. Continued on page 174

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WINE+DINE Continued from page 169

ARTISTE WINERY AND TASTING STUDIO 2948 Grand Ave., Ste. E,

Los Olivos, 805-686-2626, artiste .com. At this “tasting studio ” try vintages and create art on canvases or in sketchbooks set around the room while you’re at it. BECKMEN VINEYARDS

2670 Ontiveros Rd., Los Olivos, 805-688-8664, beckmenvineyards .com. From a 365-acre vineyard, Steve Beckmen harvests and produces Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, and others. BIN 2860 2860 Grand Ave., Los Oli-

vos, 805-693-8537. Home to a variety of Central Coast wines, Bin 2860 also offers a variety of international wines ranging from Germany to South Africa. BLAIR FOX CELLARS 2902 San

Marcos Ave., Los Olivos, 805-691-1678, blairfoxcellars.com. After working at various wineries locally and in Australia, Santa Barbara native Blair Fox founded his own winery to produce delicious Rhône-style Viognier and Syrah. THE BRANDER VINEYARD

2401 N. Refugio Rd., Los Olivos, 805-688-2455, brander.com. Taste Fred Brander’s famed Sauvignon Blanc as well as his Bordeaux-style reds. BROPHY CLARK CELLARS

805-296-3017, brophyclarkcellars .com. Husband and wife John Clark and Kelley Brophy Clark founded their winery in 1996 to create delicious whites and reds.

CLEB WINES 805-588-1995. Lino

Garcia and Joey Tensley’s intimate winery produces just 500 cases of white and red wines each vintage. CONSILIENCE WINES 2923 Grand Ave., Los Olivos, 805-691-1020, consiliencewines.com. One of Brett Escalera’s top sellers is his Zinfandelbased port ($26)—perfect for pairing with chocolate after an autumn feast. COQUELICOT ESTATE VINEYARD

2884 Grand Ave., Los Olivos, 805-688-1500, coquelicotwines.com. Bernard Rosenson established this organic, family-run winery in 2005. The tasting room is located in what was once a blacksmith shop in 1886. COGHLAN VINEYARD & JEWELERS 2366 Alamo Pintado

Rd., Los Olivos, 805-686-2395. At Coghlan Vineyard & Jewelers, taste beautifully handcrafted wines while exploring one-of-a-kind handmade jewelry. CURTIS WINERY 5249 Foxen

Canyon Rd., Los Olivos, 805-6868999, curtiswinery.com. Curtis Winery is exclusively committed to crafting Rhône-style varietals. DANIEL GEHRS WINES 2939

Grand Ave., Los Olivos, 805-6939686, danielgehrswines.com. This tasting room embodies history and wine. Built in 1904, Heather Cottage opened as the French-country style Daniel Gehrs tasting room in 2000. DEMETRIA ESTATE WINES 6701

BYRON VINEYARD AND WINERY 2367 Alamo Pintado Ave., Los

Olivos, 805-938-7365, byronwines .com. In 1984, Ken Brown pioneered the production of Pinot Noir on the Central Coast. The winery now offers more than 170 different types of Pinot Noirs, which can be sampled and purchased at the tasting room. CARHARTT VINEYARD 2990

Grand Ave., Ste. A, Los Olivos, 805-693-5100, carharttvineyard .com. Stop by the “World’s Smallest Tasting Room” and enjoy a smooth glass of Brooke and Mike Carhartt’s Sauvignon Blanc or estate Syrah. CARINA CELLARS 2900 Grand

Ave., Ste. A, Los Olivos, 805-6882459, carinacellars.com. Try Joey Tensley’s 2006 Mourvèdre, Central Coast ($36)—its flavors of clove, thyme, cranberries, cherries, and cocoa go well with barbecued meats and grilled veggies for a great fall party.

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Foxen Canyon Rd., Los Olivos, 805686-2345, demetriaestate.com. Established in 2005, this familyowned winery produces artful wines crafted by Michael Roth, who uses low yields, sustainable and biodynamic farming practices, and gentle winemaking procedures. DRAGONETTE CELLARS 2445 Alamo Pintado Ave., Los Olivos, 805-693-0077, dragonettecellars.com. Dragonette Cellars’ logo captures the medieval philosophy that wine is “drinkable gold.” EPIPHANY CELLARS 2947 Grand

Ave., Los Olivos, 805-686-2424, epiphanycellars.com. Established in 1999 by Eli Parker, Epiphany continues to provide the central coast with quality wine made in the hills of Santa Barbara County and surrounding areas.

Gainey ranches, Evan’s Ranch focuses on growing Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah, making it the cooler cousin to Gainey’s Home Ranch, which features Cabernets and Merlots that grow better in warmer climates. FESS PARKER WINERY AND VINEYARD 6200 Foxen Canyon Rd.,

Los Olivos, 805-688-1545, fessparkerwines.com. Founded by the late actor/entrepreneur Fess Parker, this vineyard and winery—a perfect spot for a picnic or private event— crafts uncompromising wines. FIRESTONE VINEYARD 5017 Zaca Station Rd., Los Olivos, 805-6883940, firestonewine.com. The Firestones (famous for beer, local politics, and at one point, tires) founded their Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon-producing vineyard in 1972. KAENA WINE COMPANY 2890 Grand Ave., Los Olivos, 805-6884069, kaenawine.com. Hawaiian for “potential for greatness,” Kaena is operated by Mikael Sigouin, who started with just three barrels in 2001.

Ave., Los Olivos, 805-688-5400, refugioranch.com. The Gleason family’s 440-acre Refugio Ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley AVA produces nine different grapes. SAARLOOS & SONS 2971 Grand Ave., Los Olivos, 805-688-1200, saarloosandsons.com. This family’s vintages are labeled with unusual names such as 194Five the Union, a Syrah-Cabernet blend. SANDHI WINES 805-618-2707, sandhiwines.com. Sandhi is named after the ancient Sanskrit word meaning “collaboration ” as well as the connection between man, earth, and vine. STOLPMAN VINEYARDS 2434

Alamo Pintado Ave., Los Olivos, 805-688-0400, stolpmanvineyards .com. Syrah is one of the premier grapes of this bucolic Ballard Canyon vineyard. TENSLEY WINES 2900 Grand Ave., Ste. B, Los Olivos, 805-688-6761, tensleywines.com. The family-owned Tensley Wines was established in 1998 and specializes in Syrah.

KOEHLER WINERY 5360 Foxen

Canyon Rd., Los Olivos, 805-6938384, koehlerwinery.com. Situated on the celebrated Foxen Canyon Trail in the Santa Ynez Valley, Koehler Winery consists of a 100-acre estate planted with 30-year-old vines. LARNER 2900 Grand Ave., Los Oli-

vos, 805-688-8148, larnerwine.com. Larner is a family-run boutique estate with a limited production of 900 cases per year and known for the awardwining fruit that has set the vineyard apart as a Californian Grand Cru. LONGORIA WINES 2935 Grand Ave., Los Olivos, 866-759-4637, longoriawine.com. Rick Longoria specializes in European-style Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Located in one of the oldest buildings in Los Olivos, the intimate tasting room a great spot for a relaxing experience. OAK SAVANNA VINEYARD 5095

Zaca Station Rd., Los Olivos, 805686-9604, andrewmurrayvineyards .com. Oak Savanna Vineyard specializes in limited amounts of Chardonnay and a red blend. QUPE 2963 Grand Ave., Los Olivos,

EVAN’S RANCH 2901 Grand

805-686-4200, qupe.com. Owner/ winemaker Bob Lindquist makes fabulous Rhône varietals and Chardonnay.

Ave., Los Olivos, 888-424-6398, evansranchwines.com. One of three

REFUGIO RANCH 2990 Grand

TESSA MARIE WINES 2901 Grand Ave., Ste. C, Los Olivos, 805-6886081, tessamariewines.com. Granddaughter of the late actor/ vintner Fess Parker, Tessa Marie Parker sources most of her fruit from some of the most esteemed vineyards in the Santa Barbara County. TRE ANELLI 2923 Grand Ave., Los Olivos, 805-691-1020, treanelliwine .com. Tre Anelli combines Italian and Spanish lure with Santa Barbara County grapes for a modern yet rustic tasting endeavor. VERDAD 2963 Grand Ave., Los

Olivos, 805-686-4200, verdadwines .com. With this label, Bob Lindquist and Louisa Sawyer Lindquist spotlight Spanish varietals. WEATHERBORNE WINE CORP.

weatherborne.com. Minimalist winemaking with a limited-production of Pinot Noir. Bright and lively with sweet fruit and an intriguing darker undertow, try the Sta. Rita Hills 2012 Pinot Noir ($35.) ZACA MESA WINERY AND VINEYARDS 6905 Foxen Canyon

Rd., Los Olivos, 805-688-9339, zacamesa.com. Pack a picnic, play a game of chess on the life-size chessboard, or take a scenic stroll on the hiking trail.

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BEDFORD WINERY 448 Bell St., Los Alamos, 805-344-2107, bedfordwinery.com. With an ambiance for rich conversation, the tasting room features a deeper wine experience through the knowledgeable staff. CASA DUMETZ WINES 388 Bell

St., Los Alamos, 805-344-1900, casadumetzwines.com. Owner and winemaker Sonja Magdevski produces vibrant wines that showcase the balanced nature of the grapes, the harvest, and the seasons. GOGI WINES 362 Bell St., Los

Alamos, 805-344-2744, unionhotel victmansion.com. Created in Lompoc at Ampelos Cellars, each of Kurt Russell’s GoGi wines are mastered to deliver a wonderfully floral quality. HUDSON BELLAMY 362 Bell St.,

Los Alamos, 805-344-2744, hudson bellamywines.com. Kate Hudson and Matthew Bellamy began their production of wine after contracting the same passion for growing grapes and making wine that they first saw in Kurt Russell, maker of GoGi wines. MUNICIPAL WINEMAKERS 425

Bell St., Los Alamos, 805-931-6864, municipalwinemakers.com. With locations in both Santa Barbara and Los Alamos, owner Dave Potter shares his personal enjoyment of rustic wines.

SANTA MARIA BRUCHER AND GOLDEN BEAR WINERY 2115 S. Blosser Rd., No.

118, Santa Maria, 805-347-8720, brucherwinery.com. Since taking over the winery in 2010, Janis and Mike Schmidt have been finding the best possible harvests while producing artisanal wines to “delight the senses.” CAMBRIA ESTATE WINERY 5475

Chardonnay Ln., Santa Maria, 805-938-7318, cambriawines.com. Enjoy a slow-paced day of elegance filled with gourmet cheeses and other specialty items paired with tasty Cambria wine. COSTA DE ORO WINERY 1331 S.

Nicholson Ave., Santa Maria, 805922-1468, cdowinery.com. Located beside a lush mountain and valley, Costa De Oro creates a friendly atmosphere for all their visitors. COTTONWOOD CANYON VINEYARD AND WINERY 3940

Dominion Rd., Santa Maria, 805937-8463, cottonwoodcanyon.com.

Although small, this ultra-premium winery never fails to delight. FOXEN VINEYARD 7200 Foxen

Canyon Rd. and 7600 Foxen Canyon Rd., Santa Maria, 805937-4251, foxenvineyard.com. The Foxen boys remain loyal to their original goals: the creation of small production, sustainably-farmed, vineyard-focused wines using a straightforward and minimalist approach to winemaking. PRESQU’ILE 5391 Presqu’ile

Dr., Santa Maria, 805-937-8110, presquilewine.com. Indulge in the creations of the Murphy family’s estate production of Santa Maria Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, and Santa Barbara County Sauvignon Blanc. RANCHO SISQUOC WINERY

6600 Foxen Canyon Rd., Santa Maria, 805-934-4332, rancho sisquoc.com. Sarah Holt Mullins believes in crafting quality wines in small quantities. She manages 12 varietals and blends from Sauvignon Blanc to Merlot. RIVERBENCH WINERY 6020

Foxen Canyon Rd., Santa Maria, 805-937-8340, riverbench.com. Winemaker Clarissa Nagy’s love for the aromas of Pinot Noir is what drives her to continue to refine Riverbench wines. TRES HERMANAS VINEYARD AND WINERY 9660 Foxen Canyon

Rd., Santa Maria, 805-937-8451, treshermanawinery.com. Marvin and Paulette Teixeira offer guests private barrel tastings with winemaker Mark Horvath.

OJAI CASA BARRANCA WINERY

208 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai, 805-6401255, casabarranca.com. This certified organic winery is dedicated to employing winemaking practices sans toxic solvents and cleaners. OJAI ALISAL VINEYARD 475 E.

Ojai Ave., Ojai, 805-640-7987, ojaialisal.com. Viognier, Grenache, Syrah, and Malbec are just some varietals produced at the magical Ojai Alisal Vineyard. OJAI VINEYARD 109 S. Mont-

gomery St., Ojai, 805-798-3947, ojaivineyard.com. Adam and Helen Tolmach produce wines from Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier grapes.

SantaBarbara

LOS ALAMOS

Santa Barbara Magazine (ISSN 0744-5199; USPS 112990) Best of 2015, Volume 41/ Number 2 is published quarterly with an additional issue in February by Smith Publishing Group, LLC. Periodical postage paid at Santa Barbara, CA, and additional mailing offices. Editorial office: 2064 Alameda Padre Serra, Ste. 120, Santa Barbara, CA 93103. Telephone: 805-965-5999, fax: 805-965-7627, editorial e-mail: editorial@sbmag.com. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Santa Barbara Magazine, P.O. Box 16386, North Hollywood, CA 91615. Subscriptions: telephone: 888-592-0026, e-mail: sbrcs@magserv.com. Domestic rates are $22 for one year (five issues), $36 for two years (10 issues); for airmail, add $40 postage; for orders outside the United States, add $20 postage. Single copies are available at newsstands and other magazine outlets throughout the United States.

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